Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they continue their winning run.
Did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the best of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.
Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's just not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs
It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.
A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a rare visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York actually has them top of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut league game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defence getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {