Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears keep to surprise while they extend their victorious streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen infractions 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 four games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis team was very notable – and may have only saved their season.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading three scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to win it in overtime.
A few huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.
They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first NFL start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a presence to build confidence.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {