Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?
Sentiment of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.
Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does barely enough – if it cannot 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 the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four series to win it in extra time.
A few huge throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the old Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.
He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut NFL start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {