🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week delivered an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?

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

Did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the starting role in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the pick of the week in the NFL.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging score personifying his energetic display.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this season – the other being a bad division loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover giving chance after opportunity to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts squad was hugely 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, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading three scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few big throws and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.

That was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the year after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may at times be shaky, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period comebacks this season, 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 Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and appearing finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defence recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {