Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL Week 12

The twelfth week provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

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

Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out 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 first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one 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 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense keeps 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 ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in overtime.

Some big throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference standings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial close win of the season after losing 5 already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.

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

He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally kings are both holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.

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

Nicholas Townsend
Nicholas Townsend

A seasoned esports analyst and coach with over a decade of experience in competitive gaming strategies.