🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious run.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time job in Cleveland?

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 against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

Sentiment of a initial home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was very notable – and may have just saved their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.

A few big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own goal area – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

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

And how about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first professional outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

But the question will continue to be raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

Moreover confidence is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {