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

Playoff Mahomes arrived to rescue the Chiefs' season while the Chicago Bears continue to impress while they continue their winning streak.

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

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

Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys were trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind against the defending championship winners, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have played a part, however it was a mixture of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on rare errors by the Eagles.

Dak surpassed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his all-action showing.

Philly squandered a lead of 21 points or more for the first time since 1999, with just their second game with multiple turnovers this season – the previous being another disappointing NFC East loss at the Giants.

Along with fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the offensive malaise that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an fast beginning was significant. He had only thrown for 200-plus yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.

However from the time the Eagles went 21-0 up their offence derailed dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a failed three-point attempt and then a turnover giving chance after opportunity to the Cowboys.

The Eagles defense is brilliant, it really is, but an offence that's not eclipsed 21 points in five of 7 games (3 losses) is now a huge concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not working.

Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the big moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offense there is manages just about sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the discipline and possession security is breaking down, there may be trouble in the future.

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

It wasn't quite as extreme, but Kansas City's 11-point comeback in the final period against a strong Indianapolis team was hugely notable – and may have only rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Well, the league’s advanced analytics now give the Kansas City a 58% probability of reaching the playoffs, when a defeat on the weekend would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

It’s no surprise the playoff version of Patrick Mahomes turned up, passing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and leading 3 scoring possessions in their last four series to seal it in overtime.

Some huge passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Mahomes in the postseason, but right now the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the conference rankings.

This was closer to the old Kansas City however, with a initial one-score victory of the season after dropping 5 previously – they secured 11 of them the previous season so, if that confidence comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom might not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the Division?

You can no longer overlook the Chicago Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Rodgers, kept them top of the NFC North and at 8-3 – sharing the same standing as the Philadelphia.

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

He may still be shaky, surrendering a score after a fumble in his own end zone – but he also threw three touchdowns and, with already five final period rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.

The Green Bay Packers are in close chase in the division after overpowering the Vikings and Detroit are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.

Chicago are strangely the most consistent with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl winners on Thanksgiving we'll see just how good they truly are.

Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Prospect

This looks among the most exciting holiday schedules for years, with every game packed with playoff implications.

The Lions host the Packers in the traditional curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual visit back to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before moving to Missouri.

Sunday's comeback kings are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal margin for error – so this will have a post-season feel.

And how about the Ravens? An ugly victory over the New York actually has them leading of the division after beginning 1-5 and appearing finished.

Holiday and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (6:00 PM)
• Thursday, 27 November: Kansas City Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, twenty-eight November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 PM)

Can Sanders Retain His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the starting position when Gabriel comes back.

Yet the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first league game since Zeier in 1999 – with seventeen additional rookie quarterbacks failing to do so afterward.

It came only the Las Vegas, and with the assistance of an almost aggressive Browns defense recording ten tackles, but Cleveland's offence needs a director, a presence to inspire confidence.

Moreover confidence is one thing not lacking in Shedeur, who informed a CBS {