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

Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' season while the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at 21-0 down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest comeback ever?

Sentiment of a initial home game since a teammate’s tragic passing could have played a part, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for yards thrown (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his diving score 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 several giveaways this year – the previous being a bad division loss at the Giants.

Along with 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a failed field goal and then a fumble handing opportunity after opportunity to the Cowboys.

Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Rescue Kansas City

It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Colts team was very impressive – and could have just saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, throwing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their final four possessions to seal it in overtime.

A few big passes and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in post-season form – at six and five and only tenth in the AFC rankings.

This was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial one-score win of the year after losing five previously – they won eleven of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer ignore the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on each side of the ball, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Caleb Williams, a young player now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own goal area – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this year, he understands how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in hot chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a huge game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 wins in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll see exactly how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Holiday in Store

This looks among the best Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game loaded with postseason implications.

The Lions welcome the Green Bay in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback teams are each clinging to playoff hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the New York in fact has them leading of the division after beginning one and five and looking finished.

Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league start since Eric Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 additional first-year signal callers failing to do so afterward.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defence getting 10 sacks, but the Browns’ offence requires a director, a figurehead to inspire belief.

Moreover self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who informed a network {