Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12

The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to surprise as they extend their victorious run.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts squad was very notable – and could have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.

A few big throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

That was more like the former Chiefs however, with a initial close win of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.

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

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store

This looks among the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback teams are each clinging to playoff hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the division after starting one and five and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to keep the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

But the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence getting ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {

William Beltran
William Beltran

A passionate collector and writer specializing in gaming memorabilia and unique finds.