Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL Week 12

Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

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

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first NFL start to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and may have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to win it in extra time.

A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score victory of the year after dropping five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

This looks one of the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to keep the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {

James Hernandez
James Hernandez

A seasoned esports analyst and competitive gamer with over a decade of experience in strategy development and community coaching.