Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League the Twelfth Week

Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious run.

And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to secure the starting role in Cleveland?

We’ll examine at the best of the action in the league.

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

Sentiment of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.

In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.

However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.

How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their final four series to win it in extra time.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC rankings.

This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a initial close victory of the season after losing five already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing close games.

He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a rare trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first league start since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

Moreover confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {

Brent Klein
Brent Klein

Digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping startups scale through innovative marketing techniques.