.png)
Week 12 - Washington Commanders (4-7) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-3)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: November 23, 2023
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium - Arlington, TX
How to Watch: CBS
Matchup History: Dallas leads all-time series 76-48-2
Last Meeting: Washington def. Dallas 26-6 on 1/8/23
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Washington +11
Over/Under: 49
Prediction: Washington 22, Dallas 37
Official Game Notes: HERE
Follow Along on Twitter
Zach Penrice - DMV Sports: https://twitter.com/Zach_DMVSports
Head Coach: Ron Rivera (4th season, 26-34-1 record in Washington)
Record: 4-7 (0-4, 3rd in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. New York Giants 31-19 on 11/19/23
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Sam Howell
For the second time in the past four seasons, the Washington Commanders will play on the road against Dallas for the Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving home game.
Washington heads to Dallas for Week 12 to face the Cowboys for the first time, coming off back-to-back losses, and losing four of its last five games entering Thursday.
This past Sunday, the Commanders lost to divisional rival New York for the second time this year, accounting for two of the Giants’ three wins this season.
In the game, Washington turned it over six times, including three interceptions from quarterback Sam Howell, and three fumbles from three different Commanders.
It’s the most turnovers by any team in a game this season.
“Well, it’s a low point, that’s for sure,” Head Coach Ron Rivera said following the loss.
Having been swept by both Philadelphia and New York in the NFC East, the Commanders now play the first of two games against the Cowboys. The reverse fixture will be Week 18 in Landover.
Dallas poses a daunting task for the Commanders across the board. The Cowboys have the 2nd ranked defense in the NFL and are 2nd against the pass, which is where Washington thrives.
In order to win, Washington will have to run effectively with Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. If they get into a pass-first game with Dallas, the already tall task will become nearly impossible.
Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (4th season, 37-23 record in Dallas)
Record: 7-3 (2-1, 2nd in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Lost @ Dallas 49-17 on 11/12/23
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Micah Parsons
Dallas has terrorized Washington in this matchup over the last several years.
Since the start of the 1998 season, Dallas is 35-15 against Washington and has won three of the last four games against them, with the one loss in an essentially meaningless game for the Cowboys in Week 18 last season.
However, the last time the two teams met on Thanksgiving, in the 2020 season, Washington took out Dallas in emphatic fashion, 41-16.
Thursday, the two old NFC East rivals meet again on the national holiday, as the Cowboys host yet another game on Thanksgiving, just as they have every year since 1966.
This season, the Cowboys have a contending team. Dallas is 7-3 with losses to Arizona, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.
With seven games to go, the Cowboys are clearly a top team, but don’t quite yet have the resume. Their only wins have come against teams that are currently below .500. When they’ve gone against better teams, like San Francisco and Philadelphia, they’ve lost; to the 49ers by 32 and the Eagles in a close one by 5.
Dallas will have its opportunities ahead to prove itself. They still play the Eagles in Dallas, @ Buffalo, @ Miami, and host Detroit, all opponents that are over .500 at the moment.
With the Eagles likely to win the division at 9-1 overall and unlikely to be caught, the Cowboys will likely be a wildcard and have to go on the road throughout the postseason.
If you’re an NFC division winner and get the chance to host a playoff game, this is the last team you want to see come into your building on wildcard weekend.
Comments