🔗 Share this article

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears continue to impress as they continue their victorious streak.

Did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL outing to earn the starting job in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback in history?

The emotions of a initial home game after a teammate’s untimely passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the other being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.

In addition to 14 infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is manages barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts team was hugely impressive – and may have just saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading three point-scoring possessions in their final four series to win it in extra time.

A few huge throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the AFC rankings.

That was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning close games.

He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he also passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this year, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they truly are.

Preview – Exciting Holiday in Prospect

It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

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

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

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

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first professional outing to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.

But the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his first league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost feral Browns defense recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.

And confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {