Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Bears keep to surprise while they continue their victorious streak.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts team was very notable – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading three scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in overtime.
A few big passes and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC rankings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the season after losing five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing close games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are both holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {