🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week delivered an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their winning streak.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional outing to secure the starting job in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 behind versus the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?

Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s untimely death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.

In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the fourth quarter against a powerful Colts team was very notable – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three scoring drives in their final 4 possessions to seal it in overtime.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a first one-score win of the season after dropping five already – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now used to winning close games.

He may at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

It appears one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut professional start to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first NFL game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defence getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire belief.

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