Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12
The twelfth week provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning run.
Did Sanders do enough on his debut professional start to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home game since a teammate’s untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a bad division defeat at the New York.
Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the components are all there but it's just not working.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick 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 Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last four possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a initial close win of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?
You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning close games.
He can still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect
This looks among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a rare visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Job?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional outing to keep the first-team job when Gabriel returns.
But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.
It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {