Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their victorious streak.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the starting job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another bad division defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

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

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have only saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.

This was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first close victory of the year after dropping five already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to securing close games.

He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff 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 one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a figurehead to build belief.

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

Travis Hurley
Travis Hurley

A seasoned tech journalist and digital strategist with a passion for uncovering emerging trends and simplifying complex topics for readers.