Philly Falter in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week

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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their victorious run.

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

Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the reigning championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a initial home game after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and clutch drives (twenty-five) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time since nineteen ninety-nine, with only their second game with multiple turnovers this year – the other being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive beginning was huge. He had only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games prior to Sunday, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not surpassed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's just not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ 11-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have reduced that number to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason form of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three point-scoring drives in their last four possessions to seal it in overtime.

Some big throws and daring runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and just tenth in the conference standings.

That was more like the old Kansas City though, with a first close victory of the season after losing five already – they won eleven of them last year so, if that confidence comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the division and at eight and three – sharing the identical record as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning close games.

He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the championship champs on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for years, with every game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing dead and buried.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)

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

Will Shedeur Sanders Retain His Job?

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

But the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie quarterbacks unsuccessful to do so since.

It came just the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defence recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire belief.

And confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {