Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to surprise as they extend their victorious run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL start to secure the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since a teammate’s untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.
A few huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference rankings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score win of the year after losing 5 already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to winning tight games.
He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff implications.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a presence to inspire belief.
And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {