🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress as they continue their winning run.

Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down against the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being a disappointing division defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

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

The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding three scoring drives in their last 4 series to seal it in overtime.

A few big passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.

That was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing five already – they secured eleven of them last year 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 Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning close games.

He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with every game loaded with playoff consequences.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's rally kings are each holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

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

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut NFL start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {