Thankgiving will mark the first of two showdowns between NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelpia Eagles this season.
The two teams are currently tied atop the respective division with 8-3 records. And the team that prevails will undoubtedly take a big step toward a possible first-round playoff bye. Here are five things to watch for today:
1. Dallas's O-Line vs. Philadelphia's Pass Rush: The Dallas offensive line has rightfully been praised all season long for their excellent performance. They regularly open giant holes for the running backs and give Romo his fair share of time in the pocket to throw. However, the Eagles boast a ferocious pass rush that is among the best in the league. The Dallas line will have to be at their best to give Romo a chance.
2. Can Tony Romo Take Advantage Of Eagles' Secondary? If Romo does have time to throw, he must take advantage of a subpar Eagles secondary. Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams need to get open often for the turkey day matchup; it will be up to Romo to find them and hit them with accurate throws.
3. LeSean McCoy vs. DeMarco Murray: It will be a showdown between last year's top rusher and this year's leader. Both should have good days. But, if one of them happens to struggle, it will severely impact his team's chances of winning.
4. Can The Dallas Defense Hold Up? The Dallas defense has been labeled as having "improved" a lot this year. In reality, they are about the same on a per-play basis, but the offense has done extremely well controlling the clock that their defenders just are not on the field all that much. Philadelphia's offense does not need time of possession to score a lot of points, so that advantage will be gone in the game. Dallas's defense will have to be strong on third downs to get off the field.
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5. Philadelphia's Special Teams Advantage: The Eagles have the best special teams unit in the league. If the two teams both play well on offense and defense, special teams could give Philly the edge it needs to pull this game out.
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