Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season as the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
And did Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since a teammate’s untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.
Philly squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was more like the former Kansas City though, with a first close win of the season after dropping five already – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see just how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional start to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut NFL start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {