Philly Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?
The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.
Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and may have just saved their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect
This looks one of the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first professional outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel returns.
But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a presence to inspire belief.
And confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {