Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to impress as they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL start 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 down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?
The emotions of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving score embodying his all-action showing.
Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.
The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and may have just saved their season.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and guiding three scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.
A few big throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.
That was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the season after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago 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 standing as the Eagles.
They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.
The weekend’s rally 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 top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league start since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {