🔗 Share this article

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Kansas City's campaign while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they extend their winning run.

Did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional start to secure the starting role in Cleveland?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the reigning championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?

The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s untimely passing may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action display – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being a bad NFC East defeat at the New York.

In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni game is all about securing the big situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is manages barely sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was hugely impressive – and may have just saved their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading three point-scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping 5 already – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?

You just can't ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear threatening on both sides of the field, with a defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with playoff consequences.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback kings are each clinging to playoff hopes but have very little margin for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Cleveland defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence needs a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {