🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears keep to surprise while they continue their winning streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a initial home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

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

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being another bad division defeat at the Giants.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's just not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and could have just saved their season.

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

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three scoring drives in their last four possessions to win it in extra time.

Some huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a initial close win of the season after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical record as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to securing tight games.

He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

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

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

This looks one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league game after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

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