Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12

The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?

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

And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional start to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?

Sentiment of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his all-action showing.

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

Along with fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 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 clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and could have just saved their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading three scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.

A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the year after losing five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?

You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.

He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.

Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL start to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first league game after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {

Brittany Morgan
Brittany Morgan

Passionate esports journalist and gaming enthusiast, dedicated to covering the latest trends and updates in the competitive gaming world.