Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12

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

Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut professional start to earn the full-time job in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City

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

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC standings.

That was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial close win of the season after losing five previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

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

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 emerging player now accustomed to winning close games.

He can at times be shaky, giving away a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store

It appears one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's rally kings are each holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut NFL game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to build belief.

And confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {

Dawn Murphy
Dawn Murphy

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering consumer electronics and emerging technologies, passionate about simplifying complex innovations.