🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?

Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears keep to surprise as they continue their winning run.

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

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philly squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts team was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

No wonder the playoff version of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.

Some big passes and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the AFC standings.

This was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the season after dropping five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?

You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the league in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

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

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks among the best holiday schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a rare trip back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

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

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.

But the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a presence to inspire belief.

And self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {