🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning run.

And did Sanders perform enough on his first NFL outing to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action showing.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being a bad division loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and may have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

Some huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.

That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping five already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears among the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first professional outing to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut NFL start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense getting ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to build belief.

And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {