Philadelphia Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12

The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their winning streak.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL start to earn the full-time role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another bad NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Kansas City

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

How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three scoring drives in their final four possessions to seal it in extra time.

A few big throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial one-score victory of the year after dropping 5 previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning tight games.

He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

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

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, prior to a rare trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback teams are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

But the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.

And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {

Jordan Bartlett
Jordan Bartlett

A digital wellness coach and productivity expert who shares practical strategies for balancing technology and well-being.