Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to impress while they continue their victorious run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL start to secure the starting role 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 twenty-one to zero down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and may have just rescued their season.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.
A few huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC rankings.
This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Eagles.
They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to winning tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks among the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with playoff consequences.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’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.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ 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)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first league game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a figurehead to build belief.
And confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {