It’s finally Thanksgiving, which means several things. The turkey is in the oven, the family is gathering, the parade is under way and, of course, the Dallas Cowboys play a football game. After a stunning comeback win over the Eagles just four days ago, they play host to the Chiefs in a game that will be pivotal for both teams’ playoff pushes. Can Dallas make it three straight wins, or will they wilt under pressure? Our writers aren’t sure what to think.
Patrick Mahomes does a lot of things well, but he’s perhaps at his best when everything is falling apart around him. Only Drake Maye has more quarterback scrambles, and Mahomes also leads the league in attempts from outside the pocket. His propensity for extending plays, however, has resulted in a really long time to throw (2.84 seconds) and a high amount of pressures, tied for sixth-most in the league.
While the Cowboys under Matt Eberflus are very attack-oriented along their pass rush, this is the one game where they should avoid going solely for the sack. Keeping Mahomes hemmed in the pocket and preventing those play-extending scrambles is the key to bottling up this offense that generates so much production off its knack for improvisation.
**Keep the defense guessing**
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is a master at getting inside the heads of his opposing quarterbacks, knowing when they’re going to anticipate one thing and then he hits them with another. He has certain tenets he adheres to, but Spagnuolo is all about throwing out the playbook when it means making the offense look foolish.
As such, the best way to beat his defense is to beat him at his own game. Run out of pass looks, pass out of run looks, use misdirection, and then feed the player you used for misdirection later on. These are all things that Brian Schottenheimer has succeeded with at various points this season, but he’ll need to empty out all the tricks he’s got up his sleeves for this one.
_**Now onto the predictions from your BTB writers...**_
> Well, I feel a lot less foolish after almost nailing my last prediction. This time I’m letting myself believe a little.
>
> Cowboys 30, Chiefs 23
> I had the Eagles game as a win and felt less confident about that game than this one against the Chiefs. The whole Kansas City team isn’t the team it’s looked like in recent history and the dynasty it has built up the past few seasons. They’re ready for the taking. After the performance in the second half of the Eagles game, if that Cowboys team comes out, this game is over.
>
> Cowboys win a Thanksgiving turkey leg with all the stuffing, 30-21.
> I really would love to believe the Cowboys extend their win streak to three in a row against the Chiefs on Thanksgiving, but Kansas City is just a really tough matchup both offensively and defensively. I think it’s going to be just a little too much for Dallas.
>
> Score prediction: Cowboys 27, Chiefs 31
> I’m starting to believe. I hope I don’t pay for it.
>
> Cowboys 31, Chiefs 20
> If the Cowboys play like they did in the first half of Sunday’s game, they’ve got no shot. If they play like they did in the second half, the Chiefs have no shot. Which Cowboys team will we see? I’ve been trying to figure that out all year long, hence my prediction record matching their record.
>
> I also hate picking Thursday games because of the quick turnaround. Both teams played close ones on Sunday, with the Chiefs going into overtime. Typically the home team gets a boost in these games, and the Chiefs are 1-4 on the road this year, with the lone win coming over the Giants in what proved to be Russell Wilson’s last start. I don’t feel confident but I have to lean towards the home team here.
>
> Cowboys win 34-31.
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