Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Top Moments from NFL Week 12

The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?

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

Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first professional start to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

Sentiment of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action display – his diving score embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being a bad division loss at the Giants.

Along with fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have just saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 series to seal it in overtime.

A few big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a initial close win of the year after losing 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

This looks among the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with each game loaded with playoff implications.

Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

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

And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league game since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.

And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {

Thomas Cuevas
Thomas Cuevas

An avid outdoor enthusiast and travel writer with a passion for exploring Sardinia's natural landscapes and sharing adventure tips.