Philly Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Chicago Bears continue to impress as they extend their victorious streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL outing to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score personifying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.
Some big throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and only tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first close win of the year after losing five previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
The weekend’s rally kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers failing to do so since.
It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {