Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?
Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.
Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and could have just saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
Some big throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the year after dropping 5 already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?
You just can't overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning close games.
He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with playoff consequences.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.
Moreover confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {