Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL Week 12
Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning run.
And did Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL start to earn the full-time job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?
The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.
Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their season.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.
No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and guiding three point-scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some huge throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.
That was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the season after losing 5 previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Eagles.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they really are.
Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store
This looks among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game packed with playoff consequences.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's rally kings are both clinging to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- 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 Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.
And confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {