🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles collapse?

Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious run.

And did Sanders do enough on his first NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

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

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City

It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and could have only saved their season.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to securing close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks among the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a rare trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

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

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional start to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first league start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {