Philly Stumble in Texas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week

Week 12 provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an epic Eagles collapse?

Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to surprise as they extend their victorious streak.

Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?

Let's take a look at the best of the action in the NFL.

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Eagles Collapse?

Dallas found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon mistakes by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (twenty-five) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with only their second game with several giveaways this season – the other being another disappointing division defeat at the New York.

Along with fourteen penalties for 96 yards, the attacking struggles that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an fast start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in 4 games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Texas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four straight punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble giving opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

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

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about enough – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be problems in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn't quite as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Colts team was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Well, the league’s Next Gen Stats now assign the Chiefs a 58% probability of making the playoffs, when a loss on Sunday would have reduced that number to 28%.

No wonder the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding three scoring possessions in their final 4 series to seal it in extra time.

A few big throws and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but currently the Chiefs are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.

That was more like the former Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful might not be finished just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You just can't ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Steelers, without Rodgers, kept them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same standing as the Eagles.

They look dangerous on each side of the field, with a defense that leads the league in interceptions and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to winning 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 3 touchdowns and, with already 5 final period comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are right there after beating the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with eight victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on the holiday we'll discover just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Prospect

It appears one of the most exciting holiday line-ups for a long time, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

The Lions host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a rare trip return to Dallas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s comeback teams are each holding on to postseason hopes but have very little room for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

What about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them leading of the AFC North after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

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

Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?

Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first professional outing to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

Yet the question will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to secure his first NFL game after Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defence recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a director, a presence to build belief.

And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a network {