🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their winning streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL start to earn the starting role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?

Sentiment of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big moments, the defense 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 ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts team was very impressive – and may have just saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in extra time.

Some big throws and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.

He can still be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, before a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional start to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel returns.

But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {