🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Kansas City's season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning run.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the reigning Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown personifying his energetic showing.

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

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

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

Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was very notable – and may have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and guiding three point-scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the conference standings.

This was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a first one-score win of the season after losing five already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.

They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging player now used to winning tight games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he additionally passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover exactly how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with each game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to keep the first-team position when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first NFL game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense requires a director, a figurehead to build belief.

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