3 keys to victory for Thanksgiving week 13

The Dallas Cowboys will face their division rivals, the New York Giants, on Thanksgiving Day for the second time in the last three years.

In the 2022 Turkey Day Battle, Dallas triumphed over its biggest rival by a score of 28-20. They also won their first meeting of the season in Week 4, by a score of 20-15. Now Dallas is aiming for straight wins for the second time this season.

MORE: Cowboys vs Giants, NFL Week 13: Start time, live coverage, TV channel

The Cowboys were able to snap a five-game losing streak in Week 12 in a thrilling battle against the Washington Commanders.

After a defensive stalemate in the first three quarters, the game became more even in the fourth quarter, with both teams scoring a combined 41 points.

Notable moments included the incredible play of winger Kavontae Turpin Return 99 yards for the touchdown and Juanyeh Thomas’s 43-yard safety touchdown after recovering an onside kick that helped give Dallas a 34-26 victory.

Meanwhile, it was another forgettable season for the Giants, who lost six straight games. Their last win came over 50 days ago against the Seattle Seahawks on October 6, following a loss to Dallas the previous week.

Last week, New York made headlines when it presented quarterback Daniel Jones with the award request for release after deciding to bench the former first-round pick.

Head coach Brian Daboll handed the keys to third-stringer Tommy DeVito, who made some noise last season. However, this time the result was a 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The current question for the Giants is who will start under center. DeVito, who is reportedly dealing with a forearm injury and, according to head coach Brian Daboll, “not 100 percent“healthy to play Thursday against the Cowboys, or veteran quarterback Drew Lock, who signed a one-year contract with Big Blue in the offseason.

Regardless of which Giants center, the Cowboys hope to gain momentum in a short week.

Here are three keys to victory for Dallas, which is targeting three consecutive wins on Thanksgiving.

The Cowboys defense was relentless on Sunday, sacking Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels four times and inflicting eight quarterback hits, consistently disrupting his rhythm and applying tremendous pressure.

Linebacker Micah Parsons led the offense with 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hits and 5 pressures.

MORE: Jerry Jones delivers a “talk show topic” as part of Mike McCarthy’s contract

Since returning from injury, the All-Pro has been dominant, recording 4 sacks, 5 quarterback hits and 13 pressures.

Thursday’s game will be an opportunity for the Cowboys to wreak havoc at quarterback, as DeVito was sacked four times by Tampa Bay last week.

The Giants offensive line was a problem, giving away 34 bags (8th in NFL). Meanwhile, the Cowboys defense has stepped up, allowing 10 sacks in the last three games despite ranking 17th in sacks overall.

Sunday’s victory was overshadowed by several key plays late in the game that allowed Dallas to win on the road in the nation’s capital.

While the Cowboys created some exciting plays, it was their offensive play that really paved the way for the victory.

MORE: CeeDee Lamb is making a historic mark in the NFL after his first five seasons

Freshmen Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton, as well as veterans TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman, who replaced pros Tyler Smith and Zack Martin, and Asim Richards and Terence Steele, demonstrated flawless pass blocking against the Commanders.

Pro Football Focus reported that the line had 191 pass-blocking snaps and allowed just that one pressure in the afternoon, putting on an impressive performance. The only sack allowed was not attributed to any offensive lineman.

A similar performance will be needed next Thursday. Despite the Giants’ struggles, putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks is a strength. New York totaled 36 sacks in 11 games, fifth-most in the league.

The Giants’ team leader is All-Pro defensive back Dexter Lawrence, who is having another stellar season in New York. Lawrence is currently sixth in the league with nine sacks and has recorded 18 pressures and 16 quarterback hits.

Yes, for the first time this season I’m glad the Cowboys play is making its way into the fray.

Like the Cowboys, the Giants had difficulty stopping the run. Both teams rank bottom five in overall run defense, and the Cowboys still rank second, allowing 151 yards per game on the ground.

MORE: Predicting the last 6 Dallas Cowboys games of the season

Although Dallas has struggled running the ball, averaging just 82.5 yards per game, which ranks second-most, Thursday’s contest provides an opportunity to gain momentum on the ground.

The Giants have given up 147.1 yards to opposing defenses and have given up 140 or more yards in five straight games.

— Enjoy free Dallas Cowboys coverage on SI —

5 winners and 2 losers in a shocking Week 12 Cowboys vs. Commanders game

4 takeaways from the Cowboys’ breathtaking victory over the Commanders

The most interesting plays and the most interesting moves of the Cowboys in the match against the Commanders, week 12

CBS Sports comes up with a fun idea involving the Cowboys and Daniel Jones

Meet Abby Summers: Dallas Cowboys rookie cheerleader