The Dallas Cowboys host their annual Thanksgiving game against the Washington Commanders. Gobble up that turkey and head for the couch. On a short week of preparation, the NFC East division matchup has postseason implications. In the middle of the NFC conference rankings, each of Washington’s remaining six games plays a huge importance in challenging for the No. 7 seed to get into the playoffs.
The Cowboys are on a roll, winning their last two games by a combined score of 82-27. On Sunday, Dallas took down the Carolina Panthers 33-10, handing Bryce Young and the Panthers their NFL-worst ninth defeat of the season. The Commanders suffered a disappointing Week 11 loss to the New York Giants with much thanks to six turnovers (three interceptions, three fumbles). The face plant has heightened rumors of changes to Washington’s coaching staff.
Magic Johnson, part of the Josh Harris-led new Washington ownership group, wore his frustration on his social-media sleeve after the sloppy loss. “Wow! My Washington Commanders turned the ball over six times today and gave the Giants 24 points off turnovers. We lost 31-19,” Magic wrote on social media. Washington will be faced with the tough task of fending off Cowboys star Micah Parsons and the defense.
The Commanders have given up 51 sacks in 2023, second-most in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are fresh off a seven-sack performance against the Panthers. Parsons tied a career-high with 2.5 sacks on Sunday, with 10 sacks already this season. The Commanders look to get after Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in his seventh Thanksgiving game.
On Sunday, Washington’s defense sacked Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito nine times. The Cowboys are averaging a league-high 40 points-per-game at home in 2023. If Washington can upset their division foe, it would snap Dallas’ 12 game-winning streak at home. The Commanders sit third in the NFC East division, behind the 8-1 Eagles and the 7-3 Cowboys.
THE FINAL WORD: Quarterback Sam Howell is keeping it positive in the Commanders’ locker room: “I have faith in all my players and all my coaches around me,” Howell said. “I know that we have everything in this organization that we need to be successful. Players, coaches, everybody, it’s just a matter of we got to go out there and do it each and every day and get the results. We haven’t done that this year, and I think we’re definitely capable of it.
