🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their victorious streak.

Did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the full-time 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 were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his diving score personifying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.

Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in extra time.

Some huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and only 10th in the conference standings.

This was more like the old Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

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

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to securing tight games.

He can at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

This looks one of the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

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

The weekend’s comeback kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit 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: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first NFL start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Browns defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {