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Week 12 delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Philadelphia Eagles implosion?

Postseason Patrick Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign while the Chicago Bears keep to surprise while they continue their victorious run.

Did Shedeur Sanders do sufficiently on his debut NFL outing to earn the starting job in Cleveland?

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

Analysis – Dallas Rally or Philly Fail?

The Cowboys found themselves down and out at 21-0 behind against the reigning Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they engineer their joint-best recovery in history?

Sentiment of a first home game after a teammate’s tragic death could have played a part, however it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that cashed in on rare errors by the Philadelphia.

Dak surpassed Tony Romo marks for passing yards (now 34,378) and clutch possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown embodying his energetic showing.

Philadelphia wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the first time after 1999, with only their second game with multiple giveaways this season – the other being a bad division defeat at the New York.

In addition to fourteen infractions for 96 yards, the offensive struggles that affected Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He'd only thrown for over two hundred yards in four games prior to the weekend, he had more than 150 in the opening two quarters by himself in Texas.

However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a missed three-point attempt and then a fumble giving chance after chance to the Dallas.

Philadelphia’s defense is brilliant, it truly is, but an offence that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the components are all there but it's simply not working.

Sirianni’s game is all about winning the key moments, the defence maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there could be trouble in the future.

Spotlight – Playoff Patrick Appears Early to Rescue Chiefs

It wasn’t as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Indianapolis team was hugely impressive – and could have just rescued their campaign.

How big was it? Indeed, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now assign the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the playoffs, whereas a loss on Sunday would have reduced that figure to twenty-eight percent.

No wonder the postseason version of Patrick Mahomes arrived, passing for two hundred thirty-five yards in the second half alone and leading three scoring drives in their final 4 series to win it in overtime.

Some big passes and swashbuckling runs are typical for Mahomes in the playoffs, but right now the Kansas City are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and just 10th in the AFC rankings.

That was more like the former Kansas City though, with a first close win of the year after losing 5 already – they won 11 of them the previous season so, if that belief returns, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be finished just yet.

Discussion – Are Chicago Be Rulers of the North?

You just can't overlook the Bears now. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same record as the Philadelphia.

They look threatening on each side of the field, with a defense that tops the NFL in interceptions and total takeaways and, in Williams, a young quarterback now accustomed to winning tight games.

He can still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally passed for three touchdowns and, with already five fourth-quarter rallies this year, he knows how to get the job done.

Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and Detroit are right there after overcoming the Giants in overtime with a monster game from Gibbs.

The Bears are strangely the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they visit the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll discover exactly how strong they truly are.

Preview – Thrilling Thanksgiving in Store

This looks among the best Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game loaded with playoff implications.

Detroit welcome the Packers in the classic curtain-raiser in Michigan, before a unusual trip return to Texas for the Kansas City, who began existence as the Texans way back in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.

The weekend’s rally teams are each clinging to postseason aspirations but have very little margin for mistakes – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.

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

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Games (all times GMT)

• Thursday, 27 November: Green Bay Packers @ Lions (18:00)
• Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Cowboys (9:30 PM)
• Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Ravens (01:20)
• Friday, 28 November: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)

Can Sanders Keep His Job?

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut professional outing to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel returns.

Yet the issue will keep being asked as Shedeur became the first Browns signal-caller to secure his first league game since Zeier in nineteen ninety-nine – with 17 other first-year quarterbacks failing to do so since.

It came only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a presence to build belief.

And confidence is something not lacking in Shedeur, who told a CBS {