Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12

Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional start to earn the full-time job in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas were down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

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 fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and could have only saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in overtime.

Some huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC standings.

That was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a initial one-score victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw three scores and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff implications.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ 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 @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut NFL game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {

David Kennedy
David Kennedy

A seasoned business strategist with over 15 years of experience in corporate innovation and digital transformation.

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