Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their victorious run.
Did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?
Sentiment of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being a disappointing division loss at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts squad was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their final four series to seal it in overtime.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the former Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after dropping five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging 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 threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, before a rare trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's rally teams are both clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut NFL start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a presence to build belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {