Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season as the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious run.

And did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas were down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a disappointing division loss at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.

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

The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big moments, the defense keeps 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 breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Colts squad was very impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring drives in their last four possessions to win it in overtime.

Some huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

This was more like the old Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the year after dropping five already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

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

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store

It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game loaded with playoff implications.

The Lions host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {

Jack Reynolds PhD
Jack Reynolds PhD

Award-winning photographer specializing in natural light and urban landscapes, with over a decade of experience in visual storytelling.