Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to surprise while they continue their victorious streak.
Did Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture after a teammate’s tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving score embodying his energetic display.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.
However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence 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 possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading three scoring drives in their final four series to win it in extra time.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
This was more like the old Kansas City however, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.
He can at times be shaky, giving away a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect
This looks one of the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with postseason consequences.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win 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 @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to keep the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first league game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.
And self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {