🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an incredible Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their victorious streak.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his debut professional outing to earn the starting role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas were down and out at 21-0 behind against the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture after a teammate’s untimely death may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a disappointing NFC East loss at the New York.

Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the key situations, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period versus a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in overtime.

A few huge throws and daring runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC rankings.

This was more like the former Chiefs though, with a initial one-score win of the season after dropping 5 already – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at eight and three – holding the same standing as the Eagles.

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

He can at times be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also threw three scores and, with already 5 final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions 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 nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the best holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with postseason implications.

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

The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

But the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his first league start since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers failing to do so since.

It came only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {