🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Bears continue to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first professional start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another bad division loss at the Giants.

In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in extra time.

Some big passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first one-score win of the year after losing 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

This looks among the best holiday schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a rare trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL start to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {