🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their victorious run.

And did Sanders do enough on his debut NFL start to earn the starting job in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down versus the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon errors by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging score personifying his energetic display.

Philly squandered a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being another disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing chance after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period against a strong Colts squad was very notable – and could have only saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, when a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half alone and guiding three scoring drives in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.

A few big passes and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the season after dropping 5 already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they truly are.

Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut professional outing to maintain the starting position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut league game after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defence getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {