Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL Week 12

Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning streak.

And did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philly squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their season.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.

A few huge throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and only tenth in the conference rankings.

That was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the year after dropping 5 already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division 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 interceptions and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also passed for three scores and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

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

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

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

Timothy Alexander
Timothy Alexander

A passionate gamer and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in game journalism and community building.