🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their winning streak.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL start to earn the starting job in Ohio?

Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, 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 offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Colts team was very notable – and could have only rescued their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in extra time.

Some huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff form – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC standings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the season after losing five already – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.

They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own goal area – but he also threw 3 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 overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with playoff implications.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them top of the division after starting one and five and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL outing to keep the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut league game since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {