Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12

The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first professional start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since a teammate’s untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.

Along with fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen 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 the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in overtime.

A few huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.

That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first close win of the season after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to securing close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they really are.

Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first professional start to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {

Blake Benson
Blake Benson

A woodworking artisan and sustainability advocate who creates timeless toys and decor inspired by nature.