It’s hard to think of a holiday that is better than Thanksgiving. Football, food, family, and the Dallas Cowboys. Today, the (7-3) Cowboys are set to face off against their division rival, the (7-3) New York Giants.
After the Cowboys’ dominant win over the Minnesota Vikings just four days ago, it’s hard not to feel confident going into this game. The Giants are banged up across multiple positions, and the Cowboys are lavishing as one of the top five teams in the NFL right now. Let’s dive into the over/under reactions heading into today’s game.
OVERREACTION
The Cowboys will reverse their Thanksgiving curse.
Let’s be honest – the Cowboys just haven’t played well on Thanksgiving in recent history. I can’t think of anything more heartbreaking than year after year, watching the game surrounded by friends and family, only to be left feeling hopeless after the Cowboys lay an egg on turkey day.
Not this year.
I don’t see how this Cowboys team can come out after the performance they put on four days ago and stink it up. Yes, that sounds like the typical Cowboys we have come to know. But I don’t see that happening – not this year. The Cowboys know just how badly they fumbled the game against the Green Bay Packers, and I think that bitter taste will linger throughout the Dallas locker room. Despite blowing the doors off the Vikings, the Cowboys are still angry.
The Cowboys know how tight the NFC East has become this year and losing to the Giants on a national stage would completely deflate this team. I’m not saying a loss would end the Cowboys’ season, but it would surely set them back in their hopes of making a deep playoff run. However, I think it is obviously clear that the Cowboys have the upper hand at every level of their team, especially quarterback. Dak Prescott is 25-6 against the NFC East in his career. Prescott is also 9-2 against the Giants.
While the game might be kept close and have some typical “frustrating” moments for Cowboys fans, I ultimately believe Dallas will pull away in the second half and make this a much more one-sided affair. With a visit from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. looming on the horizon after this game, I’d like to think the Cowboys will be ready to put on another show to swoon OBJ largely in favor of signing with Dallas.
UNDERREACTION
Trevon Diggs will have himself a day.
One of the players on this Cowboys team who is having an absurdly good year, is none other than Trevon Diggs. After having a breakout season last year with 11 interceptions, expectations were going to be high coming into 2022 – and Diggs has not disappointed. The interceptions may not be coming in bunches for Diggs like they did last year, but Diggs has without a doubt made a huge leap this year.
Against the Vikings last Sunday, Trevon Diggs held Justin Jefferson (arguably the best wide receiver in football) to just two catches for 19 yards. Diggs has been locking down wide receivers this year, and I believe he will have a standout game today.
Trevon Diggs vs Justin Jefferson in Week 11:
🔹 2 catches allowed
🔹 19 yards allowed
🔹 1 forced incompletion pic.twitter.com/fPJ7VPkfDu— PFF (@PFF) November 21, 2022
The Giants are surging on their rushing attack with Saquon Barkley and the newly found usage of Daniel Jones’ legs. The Giants are missing some key players at the wide receiver position, so I expect them to lean heavily on their running game.
If the Cowboys can find a way to shut down the rushing attack for the Giants and force Daniel Jones to use his arm to try to beat them, the Dallas pass rush will be too much, and I expect Daniel Jones to make some mistakes in the passing game.
Trevon is due a standout game this year, and what better way to showcase himself than on Thanksgiving Day in front of the whole world?
