Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week

Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Bears keep to impress as they extend their winning streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to earn the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?

Sentiment of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.

Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.

In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and could have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to win it in overtime.

A few big passes and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference standings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping 5 already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing close games.

He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store

This looks among the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback teams are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.

But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.

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

David Burnett
David Burnett

AI researcher and tech writer focusing on machine learning applications and digital transformation strategies.