NFL Thanksgiving Day 2014 Game Preview: Dallas Cowboys versus Philadelphia Eagles

November 25, 2014

First place in the NFC East will be on the line on Thanksgiving, as Philadelphia and Dallas will clash on the holiday for the first time since 1989 when the Eagles visit the Cowboys in the second game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader. Both teams enter the game tied for the top spot in the division with 8-3 records.

The Cowboys are 29-16-1 on Thanksgiving and have won six of their past eight on the holiday.  Quarterback Tony Romo has won six of seven Thanksgiving starts and has also won his past three starts against the Eagles.  For his career, Romo has passed for 2,033 yards and an NFL-record 18 touchdowns on Thanksgiving.

Running back and MVP-candidate DeMarco Murray, who has rushed for 100 yards in 10 of the team’s 11 games this season, rushed for three touchdowns last year on Thanksgiving.

The Cowboys this week will play in the first of two consecutive Thursday games (Week 14 at Chicago Bears, December 4, 2014) following a 31-28 comeback victory against the New York Giants this past Sunday.

In that game, Romo passed for 275 yards with four touchdowns for a 143.4 passer rating in the win.  Romo also increased his streak of consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass to 38.

With 3:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, Romo led a clutch, seven-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dez Bryant.   The Cowboys dominant offensive line was particularly impressive on that drive, giving Romo plenty of time to survey the field and go through his progressions.

“Now we have another challenge coming up real quick on Thanksgiving Day,” said Romo. “Philly is playing great football so we’re going to have to play better than we did tonight to win that game.

Tight end Jason Witten, who will play in his 12th Thanksgiving Day game this week, is currently the all-time leader on Thanksgiving with 65 catches. His 732 receiving yards trails only Herman Moore (834) for the most all-time on Thanksgiving.

Philadelphia defeated Tennessee last week, 43-24, getting off to a quick start when rookie Josh Huff returned the opening kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown, the longest scoring play in team history.  Huff is the second Eagle with a 100-plus yard kickoff-return touchdown this year (Chris Polk, 102 yards, Week 3), and Philadelphia is the first team since the 1970 Green Bay Packers to have multiple players with a 100-plus yard kickoff-return touchdown in a season.

The Eagles have 10 return touchdowns this season scored by nine different players. That is already tied for the most players to score a return touchdown for a team in a season in NFL history.

They will need all the special teams help they can muster, as starting quarterback Nick Foles will be out of action once again with a collarbone injury.

“It’s a big one,” said tight end Brent Celek, who has played in 14 career regular-season games against Dallas. “It’s going to be big for them and big for us. I'm excited. Playing on Thanksgiving, everyone is watching, Cowboys against Eagles - it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Philadelphia is undefeated in Thanksgiving Day games, and most recently played in 2008, a 48-20 victory against Arizona.  Philadelphia has the highest winning percentage among active NFL franchises on Thanksgiving (minimum five games).


WEEK 13 INJURY REPORT – PHILADELPHIA at DALLAS

Philadelphia Eagles
 
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Monday
QB Nick Foles (collarbone)

Tuesday
QB Nick Foles (collarbone)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
LB Emmanuel Acho (groin)

Tuesday
LB Emmanuel Acho (groin)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
S Nate Allen (ankle), DE Brandon Bair (elbow), TE Zach Ertz (oblique), WR Jordan Matthews (knee), K Cody Parkey (right groin), T Jason Peters (quadricep)

Tuesday
S Nate Allen (ankle), DE Brandon Bair (elbow), TE Zach Ertz (oblique), WR Jordan Matthews (knee), K Cody Parkey (right groin), T Jason Peters (quadricep)


Dallas Cowboys
 
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
DE Jack Crawford (thumb), S Jeff Heath (thumb), CB Tyler Patmon (knee, ankle), QB Tony Romo (back), LB Dekoda Watson (hamstring), WR Terrance Williams (finger)

Tuesday
DE Jack Crawford (thumb), S Jeff Heath (thumb), CB Tyler Patmon (knee, ankle), LB Dekoda Watson (hamstring)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Tuesday
WR Terrance Williams (finger)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
DE Tyrone Crawford (knee), T Doug Free (foot), DT Nick Hayden (shoulder), LB Rolando McClain (knee), DT Josh Brent (groin)

Tuesday
DE Tyrone Crawford (knee), T Doug Free (foot), DT Nick Hayden (shoulder), LB Rolando McClain (knee), DT Josh Brent (groin), QB Tony Romo (back)


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com

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