Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week

Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious streak.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his diving score personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have only saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final four series to seal it in overtime.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just tenth in the conference rankings.

That was more like the old Chiefs however, with a initial close win of the season after losing 5 already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He can still be inconsistent, 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 rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback kings are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

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

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL outing to keep the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut NFL start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defence getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {

Brian Valdez
Brian Valdez

Wildlife biologist and sloth conservation advocate with over a decade of field research in Central and South American rainforests.