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

Playoff Patrick Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Bears continue to surprise as they continue their victorious run.

Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first NFL start to secure the starting job in Cleveland?

Let's take a look at the pick of the action in the league.

The Breakdown – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending championship champions, how exactly did they produce their joint-best comeback ever?

Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic death may have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defensive unit that pounced on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Prescott eclipsed Tony Romo records for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning possessions (twenty-five) with an all-action display – his diving score personifying his all-action display.

Philly wasted a lead of twenty-one points or more for the first time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being a bad NFC East loss at the Giants.

In addition to fourteen infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the first half by himself in Dallas.

However from the time Philadelphia went 21-0 up their offense derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Dallas.

The Eagles defence is excellent, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (three losses) is now a huge worry, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s approach is all about securing the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Shows Up Prematurely to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t quite as dramatic, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point recovery in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was very impressive – and could have just saved their season.

How significant was it? Indeed, the league’s Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a fifty-eight percent probability of making the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Mahomes turned up, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 scoring possessions in their last four series to win it in extra time.

A few big passes and swashbuckling runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season form – at 6-5 and only tenth in the AFC standings.

This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a first one-score win of the year after dropping five already – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Kansas City faithful may not be done so soon.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Become Kings of the North?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them first of the NFC North and at eight and three – sharing the same record as the Eagles.

They appear dangerous on each side of the ball, with a defence that leads the league in picks and total takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now used to winning close games.

He may at times be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw three scores and, with already 5 fourth-quarter rallies this year, he understands how to finish the game.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the NFC North after dominating the Minnesota and the Lions are right there after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most reliable with eight victories in nine, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover just how strong they truly are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Holiday in Store

This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with every game packed with postseason consequences.

Detroit welcome the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before moving to Kansas City.

Sunday's rally teams are both holding on to playoff aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff atmosphere.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly win over the Jets actually has them top of the division after starting 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, twenty-seven November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Cincinnati Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)

Will Shedeur Sanders Keep His Job?

Browns head coach Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had done sufficiently in his first NFL start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Cleveland signal-caller to win his debut league start after Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with seventeen additional first-year signal callers unsuccessful to do so afterward.

It was only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offence requires a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.

And confidence is one thing not lacking in Sanders, who informed a network {