🔗 Share this article

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

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their winning streak.

And did Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to earn the starting role in Cleveland?

We’ll examine at the best of the week in the NFL.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.

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

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise 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 before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their last 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.

Some huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now used to securing tight games.

He can still be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also passed for three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

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

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

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

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.

And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a CBS {