🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an epic Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning run.

Did Sanders perform enough on his debut professional start to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score personifying his energetic display.

Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being another bad division loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense 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 concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the key moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is failing, there could be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis squad 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 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in overtime.

A few huge throws and daring scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC rankings.

That was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a first close win of the season after dropping 5 already – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

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

They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Store

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the division after starting one and five and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut league game since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who told a CBS {