Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Kansas City – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they continue their victorious streak.

Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to earn the full-time job in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

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

Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action display.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being a bad division defeat at the Giants.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have just saved their season.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three scoring possessions in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.

Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the season after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical standing as the Eagles.

They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now used to securing close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store

It appears among the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with playoff implications.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, prior to a rare visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to postseason hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut league game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a presence to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {

Amanda Cole
Amanda Cole

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in SEO and content marketing, passionate about helping businesses thrive online.