Philly Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from National Football League Week 12

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL start to secure the starting role in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a first home game since a teammate’s tragic death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to win it in overtime.

A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a initial close victory of the year after dropping 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished 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 top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.

He may still be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

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

The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback teams are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first league start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {

Jessica Anderson
Jessica Anderson

A passionate gamer and tech reviewer with over a decade of experience in analyzing games and sharing insights to help others level up.