🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign as the Chicago Bears keep to impress as they continue their winning streak.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his diving score personifying his all-action showing.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this year – the previous being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.

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

The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a strong Colts team was hugely impressive – and may have only saved their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.

A few huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.

This was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first close win of the season after dropping five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?

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

They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He can still be shaky, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with playoff implications.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL start after Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a figurehead to build belief.

And confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {