🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning streak.

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

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the reigning championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic display.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being a disappointing division defeat at the New York.

In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts squad was very impressive – and could have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

Some huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC rankings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping five previously – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You just can't ignore the Chicago 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 Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

This looks one of the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with playoff consequences.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to keep the starting job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first league start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

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