🔗 Share this article

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

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to impress as they extend their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the league.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a bad division defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to win it in overtime.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff form – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after dropping 5 already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store

It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, prior to a rare trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

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

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first professional start to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut league game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {