Philly Falter in Dallas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from National Football League Week 12

The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Eagles collapse?

Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears keep to impress as they continue their victorious run.

Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the full-time job in Ohio?

Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being a bad division loss at the New York.

In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen 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 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and could have just saved their season.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the year after losing 5 previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning close games.

He can at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw three scores and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with every game loaded with playoff implications.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to keep the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {

Corey Hartman
Corey Hartman

A digital artist and graphic designer specializing in vector illustration, with over a decade of experience in the creative industry.