🔗 Share this article

Week 12 delivered an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign as the Bears keep to surprise while they continue their winning streak.

Did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first NFL outing to earn the starting role in Cleveland?

Let's take a look at the pick of the week in the NFL.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at twenty-one to zero down against the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?

The emotions of a first home fixture since a teammate’s tragic passing may have been a factor, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s marks for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his diving score personifying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia wasted 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 previous being another disappointing division loss at the New York.

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (3 losses) is now a major concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there may be trouble in the future.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and could have just saved their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, whereas a loss on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and guiding three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in extra time.

Some huge passes and daring runs are typical for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just 10th in the conference rankings.

This was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the year after losing five already – they secured eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?

You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the identical standing as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally threw 3 touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic opener in Michigan, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how 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 looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting position when Gabriel returns.

But the question will keep being raised as Sanders became the first Cleveland quarterback to secure his debut league game after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an nearly aggressive Browns defence recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense requires a director, a presence to build confidence.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {