🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their victorious run.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being a bad division defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

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

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference rankings.

This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing 5 already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

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

They look threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

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

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears one of the best holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally teams are each holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first league start after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a network {