🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Playoff Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Bears continue to impress while they extend their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the defending championship winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?

The emotions of a initial 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 cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

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

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and may have only saved their season.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in extra time.

Some big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC standings.

That was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a initial one-score win of the season after losing 5 previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing 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 takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store

This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with every game loaded with postseason consequences.

Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York actually has them leading of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

Moreover confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {