Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL start to secure the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.
Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have just saved their season.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.
That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store
It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {