Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12

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

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning streak.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving score embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being a bad division defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Colts team was hugely impressive – and could have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

Some big throws and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC standings.

That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing 5 already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.

He may still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

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

The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

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

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to keep the first-team job when Gabriel returns.

But the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

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

Christine Carey
Christine Carey

A cultural historian and critic with a passion for uncovering timeless themes in modern artistic expressions.