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

The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they continue their winning run.

And did Sanders perform enough on his first NFL start to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death may have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging score embodying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being another bad NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have just saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to win it in overtime.

A few big passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference standings.

This was more like the old Chiefs though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping five already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how strong they really are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL start to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defence getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a presence to build confidence.

Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {

Daniel Logan
Daniel Logan

Maya is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist dedicated to helping others reach their fitness goals through science-backed methods.