Week 12 of the NFL season began on Thanksgiving, because the underdog Inexperienced Bay Packers went wire to wire in a 29-22 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The Dallas Cowboys adopted that up by beating the Washington Commanders 45-10 behind 4 Dak Prescott landing passes.
Within the Thanksgiving nightcap, the San Francisco 49ers ran away from the Seattle Seahawks 31-13 as Christian McCaffrey tallied a pair of touchdowns.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all of the motion, answering lingering questions popping out of every recreation and choosing out who — or what — is rising and falling for each group. Let’s get to it.
Leap to a matchup:
GB-DET | WSH-DAL | SF-SEA
49ers
When will the 49ers clinch the NFC West division? The Niners have received 10 straight division video games, together with 4 in a row in opposition to Seattle. As soon as once more it appears to be a matter of when, not if, they’re going to put on the division crown. There is a life like path to that taking place as quickly because the Niners meet the Seahawks once more on Dec. 10. That largely requires the Niners successful their subsequent two and getting some mixture of losses for the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams of their video games. The trail is obvious, and as soon as once more it looks like the Niners will spend December and early January chasing the NFC’s prime seed.
Fill up after the win: Move rush. After posting simply 18 sacks within the first eight video games, the Niners have 15 prior to now three, together with six on Thursday evening.
Inventory down after the win: Kickoff protection. San Francisco gave up a 66-yard return on its first kickoff and allowed Dee Eskridge to common 35 yards per return, which supplies it one thing else to scrub up earlier than heading to Philadelphia. — Nick Wagoner
Subsequent recreation: at Eagles (Sunday, Dec. 3, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Seahawks
Is the Seahawks’ season doomed? That will sound like an overreaction for a group that is nonetheless a recreation over .500, however think about what lies forward. They play the 8-3 Cowboys, the 9-1 Eagles and have a rematch with a 49ers group that simply smoked them sandwiched in between. They may simply be 6-8 getting into the ultimate week of December, and this type of blowout loss does not go away any purpose to assume they’ll pull off an upset win. They may’ve given themselves some cushion by beating the Rams final Sunday, however they wasted that likelihood.
Fill up after the loss: Jordyn Brooks. The fourth-year inside linebacker gave the Seahawks some life within the third quarter when he got here down with a tipped move and returned his first profession interception 12 yards for a landing. Brooks completed with a team-high 12 tackles.
Inventory down after the loss: Geno Smith: Your entire offense was out of kinds, however Smith was ineffective whereas finishing 18 of 27 makes an attempt for 180 yards and an interception. Two of his incompletions have been DK Metcalf drops, although he threw one other errant move that was almost picked off, and he took six sacks. He stated the triceps contusion he suffered 4 days earlier did not have an effect on him “in any respect.” — Brady Henderson
Subsequent recreation: at Cowboys (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Cowboys
Is Dallas prepared for its most necessary stretch of the season? They’ve finished what they wanted to after dropping to the Eagles on Nov. 5. They beat the Giants, Panthers and Commanders. Their subsequent 5 video games are in opposition to the Seahawks, Eagles, Dolphins, Payments and Lions. The Cowboys have misplaced their two matchups in opposition to groups with successful information, however they’ve obliterated everybody else. If they’ll proceed to win, perhaps they’ll catch the Eagles within the NFC East and get homefield benefit. With 13 straight dwelling wins, that appears necessary.
Fill up after the win: QB Dak Prescott. Prescott is within the hottest stretch of his profession. He has 18 landing passes and simply two interceptions in his final six video games. He had landing passes on a display screen (Rico Dowdle), on a line (Brandin Cooks), on time (CeeDee Lamb) and on a rope (KaVontae Turpin). He additionally accomplished passes to 10 completely different receivers. Prescott’s title must be within the MVP dialog sooner or later.
Inventory down after the win: Okay Brandon Aubrey. Let’s nitpick as a result of Aubrey doesn’t miss field-goal makes an attempt. With a 52-yarder Thursday, he has made 22 straight makes an attempt to open his profession. However he missed a point-after try in opposition to the Commanders, his second within the final two video games and his third on the season. Let’s be clear, although: This isn’t what occurred to Brett Maher final yr. — Todd Archer
Subsequent recreation: vs. Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Commanders
Will the Commanders’ proprietor make a transfer? New proprietor Josh Harris didn’t wish to make an in-season teaching change, particularly with coach Ron Rivera. Nevertheless, if Rivera needed to make a change, Harris definitely would pay attention, a supply stated. To this point, Rivera has been reluctant to make any kind of modifications, particularly on protection with coordinator Jack Del Rio. There isn’t any apparent alternative, however the protection has regressed, getting into the day ranked final in factors and twenty ninth in yards.
Fill up after the loss: WR Curtis Samuel. He was one of many few shiny spots in opposition to the Cowboys, catching 9 passes for his first 100-yard recreation (100 yards Thursday) since 2020. He was focused a team-high 12 occasions.
Inventory down after the loss: Protection. Jack Del Rio’s protection allowed 431 yards — together with 331 yards passing and 4 touchdowns to Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. The secondary continues to surrender massive performs, and the entrance did not get strain on Prescott. — John Keim
Subsequent recreation: vs. Dolphins (Sunday, Dec. 3, 1 p.m. ET)
Thursday
Packers
Are the Packers playoff contenders? They’re nonetheless beneath .500, however the outlook is way from bleak. They entered the week with a 23% likelihood to make the playoffs. That quantity jumped to 38% as quickly because the Packers beat the Lions, based on ESPN Analytics. That was impartial of another outcomes this weekend. Solely two of the Packers’ remaining six opponents have successful information (the Chiefs and Vikings) and after subsequent Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Chiefs, it will get even simpler with video games in opposition to the Giants, Buccaneers, Panthers and Bears.
Fill up after the win: Security Jonathan Owens. Owens had his finest recreation since he signed with the Packers within the offseason. Every week after lacking a deal with that led to a landing final week in opposition to the Chargers, he recorded a season-high 12 tackles and returned a fumble for a landing.
Inventory down after the win: Anders Carlson. The rookie kicker will be forgiven for lacking a long-shot, 63-yard subject purpose on the finish of the primary half, however extra problematic was that he missed an additional level for the third straight recreation. — Rob Demovsky
Subsequent recreation: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, Dec. 3, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Lions
Was the safety of Jared Goff a one-week blip or proof of an even bigger downside? Goff was pressured on 45% of his dropbacks within the first half, going 9-of-20, and was sacked thrice all through the sport. Detroit’s offensive line has been among the many strengths of this roster, however struggled in opposition to the Packers whereas lacking offensive lineman Jonah Jackson (wrist) for the second straight recreation. Veteran guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai was additionally positioned on the injured reserve listing on Nov. 14. It is definitely one thing to observe because the group appears to get extra out of linemen Kayode Awosika and rookie Colby Sorsdal.
Fill up after the loss: Jameson Williams. The second-year receiver continues to develop extra snug within the Lions’ offense because the belief stage will increase amongst teammates. Williams, the No. 12 general decide in 2022, made two catches for 51 yards, together with a 38-yard reception within the fourth quarter.
Inventory down after the loss: Goff. For the second straight recreation, the veteran quarterback struggled with turnovers. In opposition to Inexperienced Bay, he misplaced three fumbles for the primary time in his profession after throwing three picks on Sunday in opposition to the Chicago Bears. Previous to Thursday, he went 12 straight video games with out a misplaced fumble. — Eric Woodyard
Subsequent recreation: at Saints (Sunday, Dec. 3, 1 p.m. ET)