Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL Week 12
Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?
Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the full-time job in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score personifying his all-action showing.
Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.
No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in overtime.
Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC standings.
This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial close win of the year after dropping five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.
Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store
It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.
Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.
The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
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 dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.
Yet the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.
Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {