Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL Week 12

The twelfth week delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they extend their winning streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time job in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging score personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just 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 attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

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

Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their last four series to seal it in overtime.

Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing tight games.

He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.

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

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how strong they really are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to keep the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL game since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {

Matthew Thornton
Matthew Thornton

A passionate travel writer and photographer who has explored over 50 countries, sharing stories and tips to inspire wanderlust.