Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to impress while they continue their victorious run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL start to secure the starting job in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was very impressive – and could have just saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.
Some big passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first one-score victory of the year after dropping 5 already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.
He may still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
This looks among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a rare trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are each holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut league start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a presence to build belief.
Moreover confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {