Turkey Day Treat: Cowboys Playing 40th Thanksgiving Classic Thursday
Zach Buchanan - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
November 21, 2007 4:37 PM
GAME SET
WHAT: New York Jets (2-8) at Dallas Cowboys (9-1)
WHEN: Thursday, 3:15 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: CBS (Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)
BIG ISSUE: The road to winning their first NFC East title since 1998 doesn't get any easier for the Cowboys, even after dispatching all three division opponents in a row. Now, with a shortened week, they have to face a 2-8 Jets team coming off that upset of the Steelers in Week 11 and playing with nothing to lose. The Cowboys must not take the Jets lightly on Thanksgiving Day, or else their turkey will get roasted. With a battle against the NFC lead-sharing Packers on the horizon, the Cowboys must not look ahead, or the much-anticipated nationally-televised game might lose some of its sizzle.
Unless the Jets can win six straight, the playoffs likely are not in their future, so they would like nothing better than to spoil Thanksgiving for one of the NFL's top teams. They will be riding high after upsetting a talented Steelers team this past Sunday, and will no doubt go into Thursday's game thinking, why can't they beat the Cowboys, too.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: One of the two NFL teams that always play at home on Thanksgiving (Detroit is the other), the Cowboys own a 24-14-1 record on Turkey Day. Their record recently hasn't been as sparkling, though, as they hold a 3-4 record since 2000, sort of corresponding with their four losing seasons in the past seven years.
Jets running back Thomas Jones was supposed to be a difference-maker coming over from the Bears in an off-season trade, but his numbers are just OK. Jones has the ninth-most carries in the league with 190, but is 10th with 723 rushing yards while averaging 3.8 yards a carry.
ONE-ON-ONE: It seems to be becoming increasingly difficult for teams to stop Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens. Owens has been on a hot streak of late, racking up four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances. His four touchdowns against the Redskins last week were matched only by the Patriots' Randy Moss. Charged with slowing Owens down will be Jets rookie corner Darrelle Revis. Revis, a first-round draft-pick out of the University of Pittsburgh, leads the Jets secondary in tackles (57) and has one interception. Owens made a talented Redskins secondary look foolish last week, so Revis will have to be on his toes.
It's also becoming hard to stop Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Even though he was going head-to-head with who he said was the best tackle he's ever faced in the Redskins' Chris Samuels, Ware still managed to record a crucial sack, along with another would-be sack if not for Jason Campbell being called for intentional grounding. Second-year left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has a wealth of talent as well as a great name, and will be the one trying to stop Ware. Ferguson is one of the NFL's bigger tackles at 6-6, 312 pounds, so Ware will try to use his exceptional speed to get to Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens.
SUPPORTING ROLE: Since it's uncertain whether starting wide receiver Patrick Crayton (sprained ankle) will be able to play on Thursday, second-year receiver Sam Hurd may have to move into the starting lineup. Hurd has impressed Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips with his production in the third receiver spot so far this season, and he has made a few clutch catches for the Cowboys here and there, most notably a 51-yard touchdown off of a slant route to seal the season opener against the Giants. Hurd's fellow second-year receiver Miles Austin will move into the third receiver spot if Crayton is inactive.
The Jets have their own injury issues with their receivers. No. 1 receiver Laveranues Coles has only practiced on a limited basis this week with an ankle injury, so the Jets will most likely use a rotation among receivers Brad Smith and Justin McCareins to fill in. Smith, in his second year in the NFL, has been used more often this season in three receiver sets, but McCareins, a seven-year veteran with 16 career touchdowns, is much more experienced than the converted college quarterback, having started 58 games since his rookie season.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys probably aren't too worried about scoring on the Jets, who are ranked 29th in the league in defense. What the Cowboys should be worried about is Jets return man Leon Washington, who has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season. Kicker Nick Folk and punter Mat McBriar will have to pin Washington deep with plenty of air time to allow the coverage to get to him. Last time the Cowboys were fully staffed on special teams and faced a premier returner in Devin Hester, they opted to kick right at him rather than avoid him, so expect a similar strategy.
Phillips said he has been impressed with how well the Jets have operated in their two-minute offense this season. Given the Cowboys' deficiencies in the secondary and the Redskins' success throwing against them out of their hurry-up offense, the Jets may employ the same tactic. By playing in a hurry-up or no-huddle offense, the Jets can prevent the Cowboys from substituting key defensive personnel, which could lead to favorable mismatches for New York and giving quarterback Kellen Clemens an advantage.
HEALTH WATCH:
Jets
The Cowboys are running into another team with injuries at the wide receiver position, with the Jets' second-leading receiver Laveranues Coles questionable with a sprained ankle. Coles only participated in limited practice this short week. Also listed as question are starting nose tackle Dewayne Robertson (knee) and backup safety Eric Smith (concussion). Both were limited in Wednesday's practice. The Jets do have seven players listed as probable, most notably starting right tackle Anthony Clement (knee), starting tight end Chris Baker (back), starting cornerback Darrelle Revis (knee) and potentially starting wide receiver Brad Smith (back).
Cowboys
Since wide receiver Terry Glenn will be out as usual, missing his 11th consecutive game following arthroscopic knee surgery on Sept. 13, the only injury issue the Cowboys have coming into this game is wide receiver Patrick Crayton's left ankle. He is being listed as questionable after not practicing at all this short week but was last seen in the locker room still in one of those walking boots. Sam Hurd would start for Crayton and Miles Austin would come in on nickel downs, with Terence Newman assuming Crayton's punt return duties. Listed as probable for the Cowboys are guard Leonard Davis (ankle), cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle) and wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder). All three fully participated in practice this week.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
November 21, 2007 4:37 PM
GAME SET
WHAT: New York Jets (2-8) at Dallas Cowboys (9-1)
WHEN: Thursday, 3:15 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: CBS (Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)
BIG ISSUE: The road to winning their first NFC East title since 1998 doesn't get any easier for the Cowboys, even after dispatching all three division opponents in a row. Now, with a shortened week, they have to face a 2-8 Jets team coming off that upset of the Steelers in Week 11 and playing with nothing to lose. The Cowboys must not take the Jets lightly on Thanksgiving Day, or else their turkey will get roasted. With a battle against the NFC lead-sharing Packers on the horizon, the Cowboys must not look ahead, or the much-anticipated nationally-televised game might lose some of its sizzle.
Unless the Jets can win six straight, the playoffs likely are not in their future, so they would like nothing better than to spoil Thanksgiving for one of the NFL's top teams. They will be riding high after upsetting a talented Steelers team this past Sunday, and will no doubt go into Thursday's game thinking, why can't they beat the Cowboys, too.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: One of the two NFL teams that always play at home on Thanksgiving (Detroit is the other), the Cowboys own a 24-14-1 record on Turkey Day. Their record recently hasn't been as sparkling, though, as they hold a 3-4 record since 2000, sort of corresponding with their four losing seasons in the past seven years.
Jets running back Thomas Jones was supposed to be a difference-maker coming over from the Bears in an off-season trade, but his numbers are just OK. Jones has the ninth-most carries in the league with 190, but is 10th with 723 rushing yards while averaging 3.8 yards a carry.
ONE-ON-ONE: It seems to be becoming increasingly difficult for teams to stop Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens. Owens has been on a hot streak of late, racking up four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances. His four touchdowns against the Redskins last week were matched only by the Patriots' Randy Moss. Charged with slowing Owens down will be Jets rookie corner Darrelle Revis. Revis, a first-round draft-pick out of the University of Pittsburgh, leads the Jets secondary in tackles (57) and has one interception. Owens made a talented Redskins secondary look foolish last week, so Revis will have to be on his toes.
It's also becoming hard to stop Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Even though he was going head-to-head with who he said was the best tackle he's ever faced in the Redskins' Chris Samuels, Ware still managed to record a crucial sack, along with another would-be sack if not for Jason Campbell being called for intentional grounding. Second-year left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has a wealth of talent as well as a great name, and will be the one trying to stop Ware. Ferguson is one of the NFL's bigger tackles at 6-6, 312 pounds, so Ware will try to use his exceptional speed to get to Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens.
SUPPORTING ROLE: Since it's uncertain whether starting wide receiver Patrick Crayton (sprained ankle) will be able to play on Thursday, second-year receiver Sam Hurd may have to move into the starting lineup. Hurd has impressed Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips with his production in the third receiver spot so far this season, and he has made a few clutch catches for the Cowboys here and there, most notably a 51-yard touchdown off of a slant route to seal the season opener against the Giants. Hurd's fellow second-year receiver Miles Austin will move into the third receiver spot if Crayton is inactive.
The Jets have their own injury issues with their receivers. No. 1 receiver Laveranues Coles has only practiced on a limited basis this week with an ankle injury, so the Jets will most likely use a rotation among receivers Brad Smith and Justin McCareins to fill in. Smith, in his second year in the NFL, has been used more often this season in three receiver sets, but McCareins, a seven-year veteran with 16 career touchdowns, is much more experienced than the converted college quarterback, having started 58 games since his rookie season.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys probably aren't too worried about scoring on the Jets, who are ranked 29th in the league in defense. What the Cowboys should be worried about is Jets return man Leon Washington, who has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season. Kicker Nick Folk and punter Mat McBriar will have to pin Washington deep with plenty of air time to allow the coverage to get to him. Last time the Cowboys were fully staffed on special teams and faced a premier returner in Devin Hester, they opted to kick right at him rather than avoid him, so expect a similar strategy.
Phillips said he has been impressed with how well the Jets have operated in their two-minute offense this season. Given the Cowboys' deficiencies in the secondary and the Redskins' success throwing against them out of their hurry-up offense, the Jets may employ the same tactic. By playing in a hurry-up or no-huddle offense, the Jets can prevent the Cowboys from substituting key defensive personnel, which could lead to favorable mismatches for New York and giving quarterback Kellen Clemens an advantage.
HEALTH WATCH:
Jets
The Cowboys are running into another team with injuries at the wide receiver position, with the Jets' second-leading receiver Laveranues Coles questionable with a sprained ankle. Coles only participated in limited practice this short week. Also listed as question are starting nose tackle Dewayne Robertson (knee) and backup safety Eric Smith (concussion). Both were limited in Wednesday's practice. The Jets do have seven players listed as probable, most notably starting right tackle Anthony Clement (knee), starting tight end Chris Baker (back), starting cornerback Darrelle Revis (knee) and potentially starting wide receiver Brad Smith (back).
Cowboys
Since wide receiver Terry Glenn will be out as usual, missing his 11th consecutive game following arthroscopic knee surgery on Sept. 13, the only injury issue the Cowboys have coming into this game is wide receiver Patrick Crayton's left ankle. He is being listed as questionable after not practicing at all this short week but was last seen in the locker room still in one of those walking boots. Sam Hurd would start for Crayton and Miles Austin would come in on nickel downs, with Terence Newman assuming Crayton's punt return duties. Listed as probable for the Cowboys are guard Leonard Davis (ankle), cornerback Anthony Henry (ankle) and wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder). All three fully participated in practice this week.
posted by The Gryphon at 12:14 PM
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