Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action display.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They look threatening on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with playoff implications.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to build belief.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {