🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears continue to impress as they continue their winning run.

And did Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to earn the full-time job in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

Sentiment of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and could have only rescued their season.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three scoring possessions in their last four possessions to win it in overtime.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the season after dropping five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may still be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

This looks one of the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are each holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

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

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut NFL game after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defence recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.

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