🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?

Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their victorious streak.

And did Sanders do enough on his first NFL outing to earn the starting job in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the league.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?

The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

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

Philly wasted a lead 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 previous being a bad division defeat at the New York.

In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very impressive – and may have just rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.

A few big throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the season after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from 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 good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

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

And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL game since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

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

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