Philly Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL Week 12

Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to impress as they continue their winning streak.

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

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

Sentiment of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic passing may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being a bad division loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have just rescued their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial close win of the season after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?

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

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning close games.

He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for years, with every game loaded with postseason consequences.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

  • Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
  • Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
  • Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
  • Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers failing to do so since.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

And confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {

Christopher Alvarez
Christopher Alvarez

Seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in UK betting markets and player advocacy.