Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL Week 12

The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears keep to surprise while they extend their victorious streak.

And did Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?

Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?

Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another bad division defeat at the Giants.

Along with fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three 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 big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading three scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to win it in overtime.

A few big throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing five previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook 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 same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback teams are each clinging to playoff hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.

And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {

Jeremy Daniels
Jeremy Daniels

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in tech consulting and innovation management across European markets.

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