Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their victorious run.
Did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?
The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and could have only saved their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their last 4 series to seal it in overtime.
A few huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the year after dropping five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how good they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first NFL game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {