Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning run.
Did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?
The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic death may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there may be problems ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to win it in overtime.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference rankings.
That was more like the former Chiefs however, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping five already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears one of the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback kings are both clinging to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to keep the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {