🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious run.

Did Sanders perform enough on his first professional outing to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

Sentiment of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philly squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another bad division loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

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

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the year after losing five already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?

You just can't ignore the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they really are.

Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL start to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a presence to inspire belief.

And self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {