🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL start to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were down and out at 21-0 behind against the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s untimely death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis team was very notable – and could have just saved their season.

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

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

Some big passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC standings.

This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the year after losing 5 already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may at times be shaky, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {