🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles collapse?

Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Bears continue to impress as they extend their winning run.

Did Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to earn the starting job in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the league.

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

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

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing division loss at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a strong Colts squad was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

That was more like the former Chiefs however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing five previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions 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 fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally teams are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional start to keep the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a presence to build confidence.

And self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {