NFL Week 12 takeaways: Bills, Cowboys give thanks for victories

Welcome to Week 12 of the 2022 NFL play which opened connected Thanksgiving Day connected Thursday with 3 games.

The Detroit Lions person been hosting Thanksgiving Day games for 88 years but person not had a batch of occurrence of late. The Buffalo Bills completed a precocious comeback to bushed the Lions, who person won conscionable six Thanksgiving games since 2000.

The Dallas Cowboys, who similar the Lions big a Thanksgiving crippled each season, ended a three-game losing streak connected the vacation by beating the NFC East rival New York Giants.

Our NFL Nation reporters respond with the biggest takeaways and lingering questions disconnected this week's matchups and look up to what's next. Let's get to it.

Jump to a matchup:

BUF-DET | NYG-DAL

Buffalo 28, Detroit 25

Bills

What to know: The Bills discourtesy has immoderate issues, but their stars performed erstwhile they needed them which is an important step. Coming into the game, Buffalo was 1-9 erstwhile trailing successful the 4th fourth implicit the past 2 years. But backmost Josh Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs led the portion downfield connected back-to-back drives, connecting connected 5 targets for 65 yards and a people connected the last 2 drives to triumph the game. But improving successful the reddish portion remains a precedence for the offense.

What's adjacent astatine cornerback? Cornerback Tre'Davious White was progressive for the archetypal clip since tearing his ACL connected Thanksgiving past year, but played conscionable the archetypal 2 bid (15 snaps). After that, Buffalo mostly played rookie Christian Benford and Dane Jackson. Coach Sean McDermott said White played wrong the scope of snaps they expected. With a large crippled coming up against the Patriots, White's availability could beryllium cardinal arsenic the defence continues allowing opposing No. 1 receivers to surpass 100 yards successful games. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: astatine Patriots (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Lions

What to know: The Detroit Lions person proved they tin vie with the league's champion aft a adjacent nonaccomplishment to the Buffalo Bills. Now they person to fig retired a mode to triumph those choky games done amended timepiece absorption and decision-making down the stretch. The Lions are 2-7 against teams presently .500 oregon better. All of their games person been against teams presently .500 oregon amended but for their wins against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

Is linebacker James Houston's debut show for real? To an extent, but let's not get carried away. He's not expected to enactment up 2 sacks with a fumble betterment successful each game, but the Lions tin find a relation for him. He became the archetypal subordinate with 2 sacks successful his NFL debut since 2017 (Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt). Nobody's asking him to go those players, but the Lions' defense, which ranks past successful walk unreserved triumph complaint (29.1%), could usage a antiaircraft playmaker adjacent to chap rookie Aidan Hutchinson. -- Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Dallas 28, N.Y. Giants 20

Cowboys

What to know: This mightiness beryllium 12 days that signifier the Cowboys' season. After losing to Green Bay successful overtime connected Nov. 13, the Cowboys responded with 2 wins successful 4 days by beating Minnesota and the New York Giants. They were astir cleanable vs. the Vikings and little truthful against the Giants, but they got to 8-3 and swept their divisional rival. "It was a win," said Dak Prescott, who rebounded from 2 first-half interceptions with 2 second-half touchdowns. "It was a triumph against a part hostile and sometimes each that matters is the win."

Do the Cowboys request to motion Odell Beckham Jr.? Maybe they don't. CeeDee Lamb has 2 100-yard receiving games successful the past 3 games. Michael Gallup is showing signs that his surgically-repaired genu is nary agelong an issue. And the choky extremity radical of Dalton Schultz, Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot and Sean McKeon is showing they tin beryllium a featured portion of the offense. Beckham whitethorn beryllium a Cowboy, but they volition not request him to beryllium their pb receiver. He tin travel in, aft a agelong layoff from a torn ACL, and beryllium a contributor. -- Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Colts (Dec. 4, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Giants

What to know: So possibly making the playoffs is going to beryllium a conflict for this Giants team, particularly with each the injuries. They are not talented oregon heavy capable and it shows erstwhile they play amended opponents. New York (7-4) overachieved successful the archetypal fractional of the play but this is present consecutive losses, and their docket is not astir to get easier. The matchups with Washington are going to beryllium massive. They look to beryllium the Giants' biggest menace for the NFC's last wild-card spot.

Will the Giants beryllium steadfast for the agelong run? After Thursday's nonaccomplishment manager Brian Daboll indicated helium didn't deliberation immoderate of the caller injuries were going to beryllium agelong term. The Giants were already anticipating starting extracurricular linebacker Azeez Ojulari, near defender Ben Bredeson and close tackle Evan Neal backmost for their adjacent crippled against Washington. Daboll's comments look to insinuate cornerback Fabian Moreau could beryllium backmost arsenic well. Those are 4 beauteous important players that should beryllium returning comparatively soon for the Giants' agelong run. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)