🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their victorious streak.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to earn the starting role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?

The emotions of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.

Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being a bad division loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have just saved their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only tenth in the conference rankings.

That was more like the old Chiefs however, with a initial close win of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning close games.

He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

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

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game packed with playoff consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to build belief.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {