🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning run.

Did Sanders do enough on his debut professional outing to secure the starting role in Cleveland?

Let's take a look at the best of the action in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind against the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?

Sentiment of a initial home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving score embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being another bad division loss at the New York.

Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be problems ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and could have just saved 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, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the former Chiefs however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the North?

You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with eight wins in nine, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare visit back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut NFL start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defense getting 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a presence to build belief.

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