Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Highlights from NFL Week 12

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

Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning streak.

And did Sanders perform sufficiently on his debut professional start to earn the starting job in Ohio?

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 down against the defending Super Bowl winners, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a first home game since a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging score personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the previous being a disappointing division defeat at the Giants.

Along with 14 penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key moments, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Prematurely to Save Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and may have just rescued their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the postseason, whereas a loss on the weekend would have dropped that figure to 28%.

No wonder the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in overtime.

Some big passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at six and five and only 10th in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the season after dropping five previously – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Rulers of the North?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and total turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to securing close games.

He may at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in hot chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the New York in overtime with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on the holiday we'll discover just how good they really are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks one of the best Thanksgiving schedules for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a rare visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have minimal room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and looking dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed inquiries on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut NFL start since Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence recording 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And self-belief is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {