Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from National Football League Week 12

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their victorious streak.

Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional start to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another bad division defeat at the Giants.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was very impressive – and may have just rescued their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference rankings.

This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the season after losing five previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

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

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

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

Detroit host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to 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 Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league game since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so since.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire belief.

Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {

Francis Jordan
Francis Jordan

A historian specializing in European nobility, with a passion for uncovering untold stories of royal dynasties and their influence on contemporary society.