🔗 Share this article

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears continue to impress as they continue their victorious run.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional start to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging score personifying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another bad division loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to win it in overtime.

Some big passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.

That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first close victory of the year after dropping five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

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

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional start to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.

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