🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak surpassed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being another bad division defeat at the New York.

In addition to 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was very impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding three scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to win it in extra time.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the former Chiefs however, with a first close victory of the year after losing five previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.

He may at times be shaky, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five final period comebacks this season, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a huge game from Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store

It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with each game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Texans way back 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.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the starting position when Gabriel returns.

But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to win his first league game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defence recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {