Sunday in the NFL was another thrilling day, delivering incredible comebacks and the emergence of new faces. As the playoffs approach, teams have less and less time to warm up as they fight for a postseason spot. With the stakes this high, here are three key takeaways from Sunday’s brilliant battles during Week 12. Shedur Sanders Started With a Win Any concerns that it would be difficult for Shedeur Sanders in his first start for the Cleveland Browns seemed to vanish after his convincing performance in a game that ended with a 24-10 victory over a struggling Las Vegas Raiders team. The rookie quarterback, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, made several standout plays that helped his team defeat the Raiders, snapping a 17-game losing streak for quarterbacks making their first start for the Browns; the last rookie playmaker to win his debut start for Cleveland was Eric Zeier, way back in 1995, according to the franchise. To be fair, the Browns defense showed its mastery, taking immense pressure off the 23-year-old rookie, who finished the game completing 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, all while his famous father watched from the stands. It was certainly an improvement from Sanders’ debut last week when he replaced the injured Dillon Gabriel. The young player’s first game in the NFL was not memorable: 4 of 16 completions for 47 yards and one interception in a game lost to the Baltimore Ravens. But when asked if he was nervous before his first start on Sunday, the fifth-round draft pick answered unequivocally. “I’m not going to lie, I felt extremely relaxed. Very relaxed. And half of that comes from preparation, studying the material, and knowing that God is on my side,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “So, with all that, I didn’t have any worries. I didn’t feel any nervous tension before the game.” Sanders communicates with his father, Deion Sanders, after the Browns’ victory over the Raiders on Sunday. Sanders communicates with his father, Deion Sanders, after the Browns’ victory over the Raiders on Sunday. Eric Gay/AP It remains unclear whether Sanders will start in the Browns’ next game against the San Francisco 49ers, but his confident performance certainly didn’t hurt his standing. Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski expressed satisfaction with what he saw from Sanders, noting that rookies always have something to learn, but he won’t make a decision on the starting quarterback yet. “I’m not going to discuss it. I’m proud of him and proud of this offense,” Stefanski said in response to a reporter’s question. “There are a lot of things to analyze, but for now, I’m only focused on today.” But Sanders, who has had to settle for a backup role so far this year, is just happy to have proven some people wrong. “A lot of people wanted me to fail, but that’s not going to happen,” Sanders stated. “It’s not going to happen.” Cowboys’ Clutch Field Goal Sealed Incredible Comeback Even the most ardent Dallas fans could hardly imagine how the team could get back into the game after conceding 21 unanswered points to the Eagles in under 18 minutes of play on Sunday. But, inspired by a brilliant performance from Dak Prescott, the Cowboys not only avoided embarrassment but also staged a comeback, defeating Philadelphia 24-21 in a dramatic contest. The star quarterback finished the game completing 23 of 36 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for the game-tying score early in the fourth quarter, when Dallas managed to get back into the fight. Prescott then led the drive that culminated in Brandon Aubrey’s game-winning field goal as time expired against the reigning Super Bowl champions. Although the Cowboys’ playoff hopes are still hanging by a thread, Prescott believes the dramatic and resilient nature of Sunday’s victory is a good omen for the remainder of the season. “A game like that builds confidence and belief in each other,” Prescott said. “When you’re down 21-0 that early against one of the best teams in the league, the reigning Super Bowl champions, you have to maintain a high level of resilience and stay focused, knowing you still have a chance.” Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott leaps over Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown for a tying score in the fourth quarter. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott leaps over Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown for a tying score in the fourth quarter. Tony Gutierrez/AP It was also a historic day for Prescott himself: the 32-year-old broke Tony Romo’s franchise record for passing yards, according to the AP. The quarterback threw for 354 yards against the Eagles, bringing his total yards for the Cowboys to 34,378. For Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer, Prescott’s touchdown pass to George Pickens shortly before halftime was a pivotal moment for shifting momentum, and that’s when the Eagles began making mistakes late in the game, including Saquon Barkley’s first fumble of the season. “You’ve heard me a thousand times. You can’t win the game in the first, second, or third quarter, but you can win the game in the fourth,” Schottenheimer said. “I told them, ‘Believe. Believe in each other and believe that we’ll find a way to do it.'” Despite the loss, the Eagles still maintain a solid grip on the NFC East division, leaving the Cowboys to hope for a Wild Card playoff spot. Dallas currently has a 10% chance of making the postseason, and their next game is on Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to the NFL. Kansas City Rallies and Ends Losing Skid In another game, the Chiefs nearly capped off an unwanted three-game losing streak on Sunday, but instead snapped their two-game skid by managing to rally and defeat the Indianapolis Colts. The Chiefs were down by 11 points in the fourth quarter but miraculously pulled out a 23-20 overtime victory. Despite the successful finish in the final minutes, the Chiefs have the Colts to thank for buckling under pressure. Indy failed to move the chains on three consecutive possessions over their last four times with the ball, opening the door for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs back to the end zone. The final drive in overtime set up Harrison Butker for a successful 27-yard field goal, securing the win. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicks the game-winning ball in overtime. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicks the game-winning ball in overtime. Charlie Riedel/AP “I give Kansas City credit. They did a great job,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said after the game. “But we have to play better. I have to be better.” A frustrated Steichen may have been referring to the decision to stop feeding the ball to Jonathan Taylor in crucial moments, leaving the game in the hands of quarterback Daniel Jones. Taylor has had a brilliant season so far—leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns—but the running back was neutralized by the Chiefs. The 26-year-old gained only 58 yards on 16 carries, his second-worst performance of the season. Meanwhile, Jones struggled under Kansas City’s pressure and finished the game with a season-low 181 yards and two touchdowns. However, Steichen hopes this loss will only be a minor hiccup, as the Colts are one game ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South. And the Chiefs are back on the winning track, keeping their playoff aspirations alive. “What I liked most was how the players supported each other,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “No one flinched. No one hung their head. That didn’t happen. They went out and played, and they did it when it needed to be done.”
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