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Gut Feeling: Staff predictions for Cowboys-Giants 

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Gut Feeling: Staff predictions for Cowboys-Giants 

The Cowboys and Giants square off the for the second time in three years on Thanksgiving Day.

The Cowboys won that game 28-20 back in 2022 and have already beaten the Giants this year. But things are very different right now as both starting quarterbacks in that game – Dak Prescott and Daniel Jones – aren’t even on the roster anymore. Dak is on IR and Jones has been released by the Giants and is expected to join the Vikings.

But as for the Giants and Cowboys, both teams have struggled lately with Dallas breaking a losing streak on the road to Washington last week. Can the Giants pull off an upset to break their six-game losing streak?

Here’s what the staff writers had to say about Thursday’s game at AT&T Stadium:

Patrik: OK, now I’m seeing some signs of life from the Cowboys’ offense and, to this point, that’s been the missing ingredient in trying to end the losing streak. The defense has been steadily improving and was lights out against the touted Commanders, shutting Jayden Daniels down for most of the game, and I’ll forgive them for the late-game touchdown because they were the only reason the Cowboys were in position to win in the first place. And with the Giants in shambles at quarterback, Daniel Jones released and Tommy DeVito battling an injury to try for a start on Thanksgiving over Drew Lock— his previous November clash (2023) against Dallas ending in a beatdown at AT&T Stadium — I can very well see, now, the Cowboys using the momentum from the win in D.C. to drop the wildly out of sorts Giants into a grave over a plate of turkey with all the fixings, but in a close one. The O-line protects and, as such, Cooper Rush should be solid in complementing the defensive effort; and toss in another KaVontae Turpin touchdown here, because why not? 24-20, Cowboys

Kyle: Here we go again. Giants and Cowboys on Thanksgiving with pride on the line in Arlington. Dallas is trying to end a six-game home losing streak and solidify some momentum into the final month of the year. While New York is playing to end their current six-game losing streak and their current seven-game skid against the Cowboys alone. Because of this, I believe it’ll be a closer outcome than most people anticipate, especially if Drew Lock starts over Tommy DeVito at quarterback for New York. However, I still believe Dallas has more firepower to get it done. Give me the Cowboys, 27-23 on Thanksgiving.

Nick: This game scares me for the Cowboys. As dysfunctional as the Giants sound right now – losing six straight games, down to a backup quarterback and talk about playing the third QB, players sounding off in the media, the head coach’s future is in question … hmm, this sounds very familiar. And the Cowboys were in the same boat last week and figured out how to win on the road against a division team. Well, here come the Giants in the same situation. It’s a shorter week for them as they travel on Wednesday for the game. Everything seems like the Cowboys would win this game but I’m just not so sure. I do know the Cowboys have more talent and should win this game convincingly, but that would be too easy. I’m going to pick the Cowboys to outlast a gritty Giants team that plays it tough. Since I’ve given Hunter Luepke the nickname “Thanksgiving” because they keep putting things on his plate, I’m going to predict a touchdown for him. I also think Rico Dowdle has his first 100-yard game. I’ll the Cowboys in a close one, 20-19.

Tommy: It’s always harder to beat a team the second time around, but both the Cowboys and Giants have gone through a lot personnel wise since they last played in Week 4. Both teams now having different starting quarterbacks is the biggest difference, and I think it’ll be the largest difference in this game. I think Cooper Rush gives Dallas the advantage offensively over either Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, who are the Giants’ two options at quarterback after the release of Daniel Jones. With all the changes both teams have seen since their last meeting, I think the Cowboys fared better, which is shocking considering the injuries they’ve been dealing with since their trip to New York. Add in that Dallas has some real momentum behind them with a gritty road win and the defense is starting to play in rhythm, and you’ve got what I think will be a Cowboys win for fans to enjoy before, during, or after their Thanksgiving festivities. Cowboys 27, Giants 13

Mickey Spagnola: This has been building over the past couple of weeks, the Cowboys running attack starting to gain some traction. RB Rico Dowdle in two of the past three games has rushed for 139 yards, averaging just a tad under 4.5 a carry, including 86 yards this past Sunday at Washington, one yard shy of his career high established this year at Pittsburgh. Time for his first career 100-yard day Thanksgiving Day against the Giants, spearheading a Cowboys 27-10 victory. Also keep an eye on this. The first time around against the Giants, a 20-15 Cowboys victory, Dak Prescott completed 81.5 percent of his passes (22 of 27) for 221 yards and two touchdowns, putting up a 125.5 QB rating. If the Cowboys O-Line can protect Cooper Rush, he should be able to feast on the Giants secondary.

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