Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Saves Kansas City – Best Moments from National Football League Week 12

Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Eagles collapse?

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

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

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

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were down and out at 21-0 behind against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their equal-largest comeback in history?

The emotions of a initial home fixture since a teammate’s untimely death may have been a factor, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defensive unit that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving touchdown personifying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another bad division loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not eclipsed 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 clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about winning the key situations, the defence keeps them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be problems in the future.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Save Chiefs

It wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a strong Colts squad was hugely notable – and may have only saved their campaign.

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

No wonder the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding 3 scoring drives in their last four series to win it in overtime.

A few big throws and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but currently the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the conference standings.

That was closer to the former Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the season after dropping five already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall takeaways and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning close games.

He may at times be shaky, giving away a touchdown after a turnover in his team’s end zone – but he also passed for 3 scores and, with already five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Vikings and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the best holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit host the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, prior to a unusual trip return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s comeback kings are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them top of the AFC North after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Browns coach Stefanski batted away questions on whether Sanders had done enough in his first professional start to keep the first-team job when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to win his first NFL game since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen other rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly aggressive Browns defence recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offence requires a leader, a presence to build belief.

Moreover confidence is something not missing in Sanders, who told a network {