🔗 Share this article

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

Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Kansas City's season as the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their victorious streak.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to earn the starting job in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

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

In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge worry, because the pieces are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts team was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of reaching the postseason, whereas a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.

Some huge passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC standings.

This was more like the old Kansas City however, with a first close victory of the season after losing 5 previously – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He can at times be inconsistent, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears one of the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally kings are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel returns.

But the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.

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