Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears keep to impress as they continue their victorious streak.

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

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?

The emotions of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic death may have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts team was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three point-scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the old Kansas City however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to securing tight games.

He can still be shaky, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

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

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally teams are both clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to build belief.

Moreover confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {

Joshua Mann
Joshua Mann

A digital strategist with over 10 years of experience in helping businesses scale through data-driven marketing approaches.