🔗 Share this article

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears keep to impress as they extend their victorious streak.

And did Sanders perform enough on his first NFL outing to secure the starting role in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a strong Colts team was very notable – and may have only rescued their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in extra time.

Some huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.

That was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning close games.

He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the championship winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the best holiday line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

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

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first league game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {