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Week 12 provided an incredible Cowboys rally, or perhaps an epic Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Playoff Patrick Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise as they continue their winning run.

Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his first professional start to secure the starting role in Ohio?

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 down and out at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending Super Bowl champions, how exactly did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

The emotions of a initial home fixture after a teammate’s tragic passing could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Prescott’s resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.

Prescott surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an dynamic display – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

Philadelphia wasted a lead of 21 points or more for the initial time since 1999, with just their second game with several giveaways this year – the other being another bad NFC East defeat at the Giants.

In addition to 14 penalties for 96 yards, the attacking malaise that affected Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He'd only thrown for 200-plus yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the first half alone in Dallas.

Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive punts, a missed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of 7 games (three losses) is now a major worry, as the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the big situations, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and ball protection is failing, there could be problems ahead.

In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Shows Up Early to Save Kansas City

It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's eleven-point recovery in the final period versus a powerful Colts squad was hugely notable – and could have only saved their campaign.

How significant was it? Indeed, the NFL's advanced analytics now give the Chiefs a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, whereas a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that number to 28%.

It’s no surprise the playoff form of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading 3 scoring drives in their last 4 series to win it in extra time.

Some big throws and daring scrambles are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season form – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.

This was more like the former Kansas City though, with a initial close victory of the season after losing five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be done just yet.

Talking Point – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the Division?

You just can't overlook the Chicago Bears any longer. A victory over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at eight and three – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They appear dangerous on each side of the field, with a defence that leads the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging player now accustomed to winning tight games.

He may at times be inconsistent, giving away a score after a fumble in his team’s goal area – but he also passed for three scores and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this season, he knows how to finish the game.

Green Bay are in close pursuit in the division after overpowering the Minnesota and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are interestingly the most consistent with 8 victories in nine, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how good they really are.

Look Ahead – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Prospect

It appears among the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with each game packed with postseason implications.

Detroit host the Green Bay in the classic curtain-raiser in Detroit, before a unusual visit return to Dallas for the Chiefs, who started out life as the Texans way back in the sixties before relocating to Missouri.

The weekend’s rally kings are both clinging to playoff hopes but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.

What about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York actually has them top of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing dead and buried.

Holiday and Shopping Day Fixtures (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (1:20 AM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski batted away inquiries on whether Sanders had performed enough in his first NFL start to maintain the first-team job when Dillon Gabriel comes back.

But the question will continue to be asked as Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to secure his debut league start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen other rookie quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It was only the Raiders, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Cleveland defense getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence requires a director, a figurehead to build confidence.

Moreover confidence is something not missing in Shedeur, who told a CBS {