Philly Stumble in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12

Week 12 provided an epic Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Philadelphia Eagles collapse?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Kansas City's campaign as the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they continue their winning run.

And did Shedeur Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to secure the starting role in Cleveland?

We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were down and out at twenty-one to zero behind against the reigning Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

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

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a disappointing division loss at the Giants.

In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

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

The Eagles defence is excellent, it truly is, but an offense that's not surpassed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (3 losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's just not working.

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 – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period versus a strong Indianapolis team was very notable – and could have only rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to 28%.

No wonder the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few huge passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the conference rankings.

That was more like the old Chiefs however, with a first one-score victory of the season after dropping five previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and total turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to winning tight games.

He can at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he knows 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 overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll see just how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

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

The Lions host the Packers in the classic opener in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are each clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?

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

Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league game since Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an nearly feral Cleveland defense recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a network {