Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears keep to surprise as they continue their victorious streak.
And did Sanders do enough on his first NFL start to earn the full-time job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?
Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s untimely death could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing division defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and may have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
Some big passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.
This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first one-score victory of the year after losing 5 already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with playoff implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {