DALLAS, Sporting Alert – Dallas Cowboys put their impressive season streak on the line when they host the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving.
The Cowboys are 9-0 since losing to the New York Giants in the opening game of the season and ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them a 73 percent chance to win 10 straight games and improved to 10-1 overall this term.
Thanksgiving Day game picks: NFL.com
Dallas, which owns the NFL best record at the moment, is being led two rookies and an offense line that should be rewarded for making life easy for the league’s dynamic offensive newbies.
So far this season, rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott has carried that ball 223 times for 1,102 yards with nine touchdowns, while fellow rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has passed for 2, 640 yards and 17 touchdowns with two interceptions.
Both players have been seriously mentioned in the early MVP discussions but the pundits believe the Cowboys’ offense line is what should be rewarded for the club-record winning streak.
Dallas, which is coming off a 27–17 victory against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, will take on a Washington (6-3-1) side that is looking to avenge the 27-23 defeat it suffered in Week 2 at home on Sep 18.
The game is a quick turnaround for both teams, but Prescott is excited about playing in his first Thanksgiving game as a pro.
He noted that he will need to remember to eat late on the day.
“I’m excited about it. I have never done this before, to respond real quick and play another game,” Prescott said.
“But I love ball, and I love these games. I’m excited for it and I’m looking forward to it.”
If the Cowboys manage to complete the season sweep of the Redskins on Thanksgiving, they would match their only 10-1 start in franchise history with came in 2007 when they finished 13-3 in the regular season.
However, veteran receiver Dez Bryant, who should be fine to play despite a back problem, isn’t getting too carried away.
“We’re taking it one game at a time and focusing on what’s happening at that moment,” said Bryant, who has five touchdown catches, but is questionable with a back injury. “We’re not looking too far ahead.”
The Redskins, who are defending NFC East champions, have not been beaten in the last three outings, winning two games and playing to a 27-27 overtime tie with the Cincinnati Bengals in the other.
In Week 11, quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 375 yards and found three different receivers for touchdowns, while Robert Kelley ran for 137 yards and three scores in Washington’s 42-24 flogging of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Cousins and Co. head to Arlington, Texas, in a buzzing mood and ESPN First Take’s Stephen A. Smith is predicting an upset win for the visitors.
Follow all the action from AT&T Stadium live on Fox, starting at 4:30pm ET.
NFL.com and ESPN.com will also provide live stats and text play-by-by commentary.
There are two other games on Thanksgiving, with the Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions @ 12:30pm on CBS and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts live on NBC at 8:30pm.
Thanksgiving NFL Schedule
Thursday, November 24
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions @ 12:30 PM CBS Ford Field
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys @ 4:30 PM FOX AT&T Stadium
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts 8:30 PM NBC
