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

The twelfth week provided an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

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

Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?

We’ll examine at the best of the week in the NFL.

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s untimely passing could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

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

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

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring drives in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.

A few big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first close win of the season after losing 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season 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 Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.

He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store

This looks one of the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.

The Lions host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to keep the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut NFL game since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And confidence is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {

Joshua Payne
Joshua Payne

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