🔗 Share this article

The twelfth week provided an epic Cowboys rally, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Chicago Bears continue to surprise while they continue their winning run.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional start to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

Dallas were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best comeback in history?

The emotions of a initial home game since a teammate’s untimely passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an all-action display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the previous being another bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.

In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before the weekend, he had over 150 in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a failed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, because the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and possession security is failing, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring drives in their final four series to seal it in overtime.

Some big throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a initial close win of the season after losing five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Eagles.

They look threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defense that tops the league in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning close games.

He can at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

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

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual visit back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are each clinging to postseason hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his first NFL outing to keep the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league start since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a figurehead to build belief.

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