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

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress as they continue their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to secure the full-time job in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 behind against the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and could have just rescued their campaign.

How significant was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their last four series to win it in extra time.

A few big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping 5 already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning tight games.

He can still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

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

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut league start since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.

Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {

Shelby Lamb
Shelby Lamb

Elara Vance is a space journalist and former astrophysics researcher with over a decade of experience covering space missions and technological advancements.