Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL Week 12

Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their victorious run.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.

Along with fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.

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

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 series to seal it in overtime.

Some big passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He can still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store

It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first league game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defence recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

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

Kathleen Lopez
Kathleen Lopez

Mira Chen is an environmental scientist and writer specializing in geospatial analysis and sustainable development, with over a decade of field experience.