Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Bears continue to impress as they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles 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, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big situations, the defense 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 may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to win it in overtime.
A few huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see just how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's rally kings are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.
It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defence getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {