NFL
By: Greg Rector
Buffalo Bills (8-3) vs Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
Thanksgiving Day, the traditional day for turkey, all the fixings, and the Dallas Cowboys playing football. This year the visitors from upstate New York, aren’t the Bills who have been futile for many years. This is a well-coached, young team on the rise in the AFC East.
Keys to the game:
First and foremost the Cowboys must play smash-mouth football, right from the first kickoff. Establish that they are in OUR HOUSE!!! The Bills have won by getting leads and hanging on. They are not an explosive team by any means, however, they do have that 60-minute mentality that I respect. After the horror show that was the Patriots game, the Cowboys must put that out of their heads.
Offense: The Bills defense has played well, not spectacular by any means, but they don’t give up many big plays either on the ground or through the air. Therefore patience will be important, especially for Prescott. They will make you earn every yard. This game will be decided in the trenches, so having the O-Line exert their dominance will be vital. That’s the real match up to watch against a front seven that is only giving up 104 yards a game, solid indeed. I would expect that Amari Cooper will want to have a big game after being shut down completely by the Patriots. Expect the Bills to know that as well, Hopefully, Prescott finds him in the natural course of the offensive scheme and doesn’t force the ball to him.
Defense: Welcome to a three-headed rushing attack of the NFL’s 3rd all-time yardage owner in Frank Gore, rookie Devin Singletary, and quarterback Josh Allen. They’ve combined for 1400 yards on the ground. The front seven needs to be at their best to limit them. The passing game is equally as solid led by John Brown and former Cowboy Cole Beasley, they have over 1300 receiving yards. The weakness in their passing game? Josh Allen has thrown 8 interceptions. Maybe try picking off a pass or two would help?
Let’s just hope the Cowboys are ready for a change. If not it’s going to be a bad afternoon for Cowboys Nation. If we see a lot of the camera going to the sideline shot of America’s worst coach, but the very best CLAPPER ever, then loss number six happens. They desperately need a win against an opponent over .500
Prediction: Since the Cowboys never make anything easy, I’ll say 27-24 for Dallas. Fingers crossed that we aren’t given the bird yet again by this bunch.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
You can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
