Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL outing to secure the starting role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s untimely passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being another bad division defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC rankings.
This was more like the old Kansas City however, with a initial one-score victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to keep the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {