Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?
Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their winning run.
And did Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the starting job in Ohio?
We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.
Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?
Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?
Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the previous being a bad division defeat at the Giants.
Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.
However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.
Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City
It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and could have only rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.
Some big passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and only tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the season after dropping five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?
You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.
They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning tight games.
He can at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they truly are.
Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store
It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff implications.
Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut league game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.
It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.
And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {
