Historic Comeback and Dominant Defense Define NFL Sunday Afternoon

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The afternoon slate of NFL Week 12 action delivered arguably the biggest shock of the season, headlined by a monumental comeback in the NFC East rivalry, while the late-night game solidified the power structure atop the NFC.

The Game of the Week: Cowboys Erase 21-Point Deficit

The marquee matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) and the Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) delivered instant classic drama, with Dallas staging a massive comeback to win 24-21 in Arlington.

The Eagles flawlessly started the game, storming out to a seemingly insurmountable 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, highlighted by two Jalen Hurts rushing touchdowns and a score to A.J. Brown. The Cowboys, playing at home, then staged a historic rally. Quarterback Dak Prescott refused to let the game slip away, breaking Tony Romo’s franchise record for career passing yards while leading the charge.

Prescott threw for two touchdowns and used a quarterback draw to score the game-tying touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver George Pickens was unstoppable in the comeback, racking up 146 yards on nine grabs to move the Dallas offense. The game was tied 21-21 in the final minute when the Cowboys put together a last-second drive, setting up Brandon Aubrey for the game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired. The loss marks the first time since 1999 that the Eagles have lost a game they led by at least 21 points, while the Cowboys keep their playoff hopes alive.

Rams Dominate Sunday Night Football

In the prime-time slot, the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) put on a clinic, crushing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) 34-7. The victory, their sixth in a row, moved the Rams into sole possession of the best record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff race.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford bolstered his MVP case with three touchdown passes, two of which went to star receiver Davante Adams. The Rams built an overwhelming 31-7 lead by halftime, capitalizing on a quick-hit offense and an opportunistic defense that produced an early turnover returned for a touchdown. Adams finished with two scores, pushing his league-leading receiving touchdown total to 12.

The Buccaneers suffered a tough day on both sides of the ball, which was compounded when quarterback Baker Mayfield left in the second half with a left shoulder injury. The Rams’ defense was ferocious, tallying two sacks from defensive end Jared Verse, suffocating the Tampa Bay attack.

Other Late Games

Jacksonville Jaguars 27, Arizona Cardinals 24 (OT): The Jaguars survived a scare on the road, needing overtime to defeat the Cardinals.
Atlanta Falcons 24, New Orleans Saints 10: The Falcons cruised to victory over the Saints, who struggled significantly in their first game since losing key players to injury, leading to an easy win for the Atlanta defense.
Cleveland Browns 24, Las Vegas Raiders 10: The Browns ended an extensive losing streak for first-time starting quarterbacks, with rookie Shedeur Sanders getting the win behind a stellar defensive performance that recorded 10 sacks.

The combination of the historic comeback in Dallas and the Rams’ statement win has fundamentally reshaped the NFC playoff landscape heading into the final five weeks of the regular season.