Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Bears continue to surprise while they continue their victorious streak.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional outing to earn the starting role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning 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 possession security is failing, there may be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts team was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their season.
How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final four possessions to win it in overtime.
Some big passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing five already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
It appears among the best holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, before a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {