Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.
Did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture since a teammate’s tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score personifying his energetic display.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 scoring drives in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning close games.
He can still be shaky, giving away a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.
The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defence getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.
Moreover confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {