🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress as they extend their victorious streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional start to earn the full-time role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score personifying his energetic display.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have only saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their final four series to seal it in extra time.

A few big passes and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the conference standings.

This was more like the old Chiefs though, with a first close win of the season after losing five previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging 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 passed for three touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are both holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first league start after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {