🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they continue their victorious run.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 behind against the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a initial home game after a teammate’s tragic death could have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being a bad division loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have just saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.

A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first close win of the year after dropping five already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may at times be shaky, giving away a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also threw three scores and, with already five final period rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely 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 strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

This looks one of the most exciting holiday schedules for a long time, with every game packed with playoff implications.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to playoff hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional outing to maintain the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first league start since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie signal callers failing to do so since.

It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense getting ten sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a presence to build belief.

And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {