Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Best Highlights from National Football League the Twelfth Week

The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Bears keep to impress as they continue their victorious run.

Did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and could have only saved their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their last four series to seal it in extra time.

A few big passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.

This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.

He can still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

This looks one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit host the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback teams are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {

Mary Hernandez
Mary Hernandez

A forward-thinking innovator and writer passionate about creativity, technology, and sharing insights to empower others.