Philly Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning streak.

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

Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, 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 offense derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts squad was hugely impressive – and could have just saved their season.

How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 scoring drives in their last four series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only tenth in the conference rankings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first close victory of the season after losing five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {

Heidi Turner
Heidi Turner

A seasoned sports analyst and betting strategist with over a decade of experience in European markets.