🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his first NFL start to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing division loss at the Giants.

In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and could have just saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in overtime.

A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the year after dropping 5 already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning tight games.

He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks one of the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with playoff implications.

Detroit host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback teams are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional start to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL game after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a presence to build confidence.

And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who told a network {