Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL the Twelfth Week

The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

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

Did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the starting job in Cleveland?

We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind against the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another bad division loss at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and could have only saved their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference rankings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the year after dropping 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.

He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

This looks one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a rare trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings 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 Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league game after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to build belief.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {

Nicholas Gordon
Nicholas Gordon

A seasoned football analyst with over a decade of experience in coaching and tactical development.