🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Postseason Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' campaign as the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first NFL start to earn the full-time role in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best comeback ever?

Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action display.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the other being another disappointing NFC East defeat at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Colts team was very impressive – and may have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to seal it in extra time.

A few huge passes and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just tenth in the AFC rankings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a first close win of the year after losing five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might 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 victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to winning close games.

He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

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

Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

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

Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first league game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

Moreover self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who told a CBS {