Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Rescues Chiefs – Best Moments from NFL Week 12

The twelfth week provided an incredible Dallas Cowboys rally, or perhaps an massive Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes arrived to salvage the Chiefs' season as the Bears keep to impress while they extend their winning run.

And did Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL outing to earn the starting job in Ohio?

We’ll examine at the best of the action in the NFL.

The Breakdown – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero down versus the defending championship champions, so how on earth did they produce their equal-largest recovery ever?

The emotions of a first home fixture since Marshawn Kneeland untimely death could have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that pounced on rare mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Romo’s marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his plunging score embodying his energetic display.

Philly wasted a advantage of twenty-one points or more for the initial time since 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this year – the other being another bad NFC East loss at the New York.

Along with fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only passed for over two hundred yards in four games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters by himself in Dallas.

However from the time the Eagles went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after opportunity to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.

Sirianni’s game is all about securing the big moments, the defense keeps them in it and what offense there is does just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there may be trouble ahead.

In Focus – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Save Kansas City

It wasn’t as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was hugely notable – and may have just rescued their season.

How big was it? Indeed, 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 figure to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes arrived, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half alone and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.

Some big throws and swashbuckling scrambles are typical for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at six and five and just tenth in the conference rankings.

This was closer to the old Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after dropping 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished so soon.

Talking Point – Can Bears Become Rulers of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, without Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Eagles.

They appear threatening on both sides of the ball, with a defence that leads the NFL in picks and overall turnovers and, in Williams, a young player now used to securing close games.

He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a touchdown after a turnover in his own end zone – but he also threw 3 scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he understands how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after beating the Giants in extra time with a monster game from Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see exactly how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

It appears among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the traditional opener in Michigan, before a rare visit return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to playoff aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An ugly win over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning one and five and appearing finished.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had done enough in his first NFL outing to keep the starting job when Gabriel returns.

Yet the question will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his debut league game after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional first-year quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense recording ten sacks, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a presence to build belief.

And confidence is one thing not missing in Sanders, who informed a CBS {