Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week

The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears keep to impress as they extend their winning run.

Did Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?

Let's take a look at the best of the action in the NFL.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a disappointing division defeat at the Giants.

In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and could have just saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in overtime.

A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.

That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after losing five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He can still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

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

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to postseason hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 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, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional start to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

And confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {

David Fletcher
David Fletcher

A seasoned lifestyle writer with over a decade of experience in luxury markets, sharing insights on elegance and refinement.