🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's season while the Bears continue to surprise while they extend their victorious run.

Did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL outing to earn the full-time role in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the best 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 Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland tragic passing may have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and could have only saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring drives in their last 4 possessions to win it in extra time.

Some huge passes and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and only tenth in the conference rankings.

That was more like the old Kansas City however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?

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

They look dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning close games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the division after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

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

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Store

This looks among the best holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first NFL start since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defence recording ten tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a director, a presence to inspire belief.

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