🔗 Share this article

Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys comeback, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their victorious run.

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

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

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

The emotions of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a disappointing NFC East defeat at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight kicks, a failed field goal and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts team was very impressive – and could have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a 58% chance of making the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC standings.

That was more like the old Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the year after dropping five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears any longer. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to securing close games.

He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s goal area – but he additionally passed for three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight wins in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the best holiday schedules for years, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, before a rare visit return to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally kings are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to maintain the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut league game after Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Browns defense getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {