Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?
Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning run.
And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut NFL start to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the NFL.
The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?
Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?
The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.
Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.
However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.
Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.
No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.
A few big throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.
That was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the season after losing five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.
Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.
They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.
He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.
Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
- Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.
But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.
And confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {