🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning run.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.

In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 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 consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely impressive – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and guiding 3 scoring drives in their last four series to seal it in overtime.

A few big throws and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC rankings.

That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first close win of the year after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning close games.

He can still be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the best holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

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

But the issue will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut league start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {