🔗 Share this article

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

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning streak.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional outing to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing division defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have only saved their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of making the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three scoring possessions in their final four possessions to win it in overtime.

Some huge throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC standings.

That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the season after losing five already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.

He may still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with each game loaded with playoff implications.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league game since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defence getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

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