Philadelphia Falter in Texas & Mahomes Rescues Chiefs – Top Highlights from NFL Week 12

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

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

Did Sanders perform enough on his first professional start to earn the full-time role in Ohio?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest recovery ever?

Sentiment of a first home fixture after Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that cashed in on rare mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic display.

Philadelphia squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being a bad division defeat at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in 4 games before Sunday, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

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

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, as the components are all there but it's just not clicking.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – 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 Appears Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have only rescued their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have dropped that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the postseason form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding three point-scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in extra time.

A few huge throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff form – at six and five and just 10th in the conference standings.

That was closer to the old Chiefs though, with a first one-score victory of the year after losing 5 previously – they secured eleven of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished so soon.

Discussion – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the Division?

You can no longer ignore the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the division and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on both sides of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young quarterback now used to securing tight games.

He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already five final period rallies this season, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the division after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with eight wins in nine, but as they travel to the championship champs on the holiday we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason consequences.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally kings are both holding on to playoff hopes but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York in fact has them top of the division after starting one and five and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his debut NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will keep being raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his debut league game after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but the Browns’ offense requires a leader, a presence to build confidence.

And self-belief is something not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {