Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.
And did Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?
The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s untimely passing may have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing division loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and may have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final four series to win it in overtime.
A few huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.
That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a initial one-score win of the season after losing five previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning tight games.
He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a rare visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut NFL start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
And confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {