The New York Giants will face the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday in a Thanksgiving Day battle between the two bottom-feeders in the NFC East.
Each team will start a backup quarterback after the Cowboys lost Dak Prescott to a season-ending injury and the Giants released Daniel Jones, who remains unsigned.
The Giants are coming off their sixth straight loss in Week 12 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They were humiliated, 30-7.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders this past Sunday, snapping their five-game losing streak.
Both teams will be on short rest. However, the Giants may have a slight leg up given they are one week removed from their bye week.
Here are three reasons for optimism ahead of Week 13.
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Cowboys against the run
Like the Giants, the Cowboys’ ability to stop the run this season has been underwhelming, to say the least. Coincidentally, one of the few bright spots for the Giants this season has been rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. — when he’s not fumbling.
The Giants would be wise to lean on Tracy heavily during the game on Thursday. Opponents have rushed 50 percent of the time against Dallas, largely because the Cowboys are giving up 4.8 yards per carry, which is fifth most in the league.
Luke Hales/Getty Images
Cowboys’ lacking ground game
On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys have had a rough go when it comes to the running game this year. Due to their lack of success, the Cowboys are running the ball just under 34 percent of the time, the second-lowest percentage in the league. They average 3.7 yards per carry and 82.5 yards per game on the ground — both rank 31st in the league.
This will be the worst running attack the Giants have faced all season and New York should expect the Cowboys to be pretty one-dimensional.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Turnover differential
The Cowboys have the third-worst turnover differential on the season at -9.
The Giants offense really struggled to have any success moving the ball down the field on Sunday with Tommy DeVito under center. However, if DeVito and the Giants have some extra opportunities due to turnovers, that could drastically help their chances of winning Sunday.
