Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week

Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning streak.

Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional start to earn the starting role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s tragic 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 Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging score personifying his energetic display.

Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a disappointing division loss at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.

How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.

Some big passes and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

This was more like the old Kansas City however, with a first close win of the season after losing five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence 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 Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

This looks one of the best holiday schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback kings are each clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first league game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a presence to build belief.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {

Matthew Walker
Matthew Walker

A theoretical physicist specializing in spin dynamics and quantum information theory, with over a decade of research experience.