Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their victorious streak.
And did Sanders do enough on his debut professional start to earn the full-time job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action showing.
Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a bad division loss at the Giants.
In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts team was very notable – and could have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in overtime.
Some huge throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how strong they really are.
Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.
And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {