Very rarely do the Bills get to be a part of cool things.
They seldom find themselves in primetime, whether scheduled or especially getting flexed in.
That’s what makes this Thanksgiving game at the Cowboys so special.
It is an opportunity for an organization known to most outside of Western New York for losing to show that this team is different. And even though most of the players I asked this week didn’t want to tee Thursday up as a chance to make a statement, I think we all know deep down that’s exactly what it would be.
It will not be easy, though, because this Dallas team is absolutely loaded with talent, maybe more so than any team the Bills have played this season.
Let’s dive into the turkey day menu.
Beasley's Return
Cole Beasley spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cowboys. In 103 games, Beasley caught 319 passes for 3,271 yards and 23 touchdowns. But when free agency came this past offseason, it was time for a change to a bigger opportunity and that came in a four-year, reporter $29 million contract by the Bills.
Beasley had some critical comments on social media towards the Cowboys in the early portion of time after his decision to leave. Now he is keeping it more positive heading into the Thanksgiving Day reunion.
As for his impact on his new team, Beasley is on pace to have the second best season of his career. While he admits the chemistry with him and Josh Allen isn’t completely there yet, they are close. He was the biggest factor in the passing game this past Sunday in the win over the Broncos, but those nine targets were the most since week four against New England. I think Beasley needs to continue to be heavily involved and see no reason that won’t continue against his former team.
Pick Up the Pace
We saw the Bills come out and use the no huddle in the preseason and right away in week one against the Jets. When they would pick up the pace good things usually would happen. While it never went completely away, Brian Daboll didn’t deploy it a lot until the last two weeks… and the results once again have been great.
In the win over Miami, the Bills went no huddle 22 times resulting in 112 yards. Last week in the win over Denver, they went no huddle 27 times for 178 yards, and they didn’t use it at all in the fourth quarter once the game was well in hand.
Josh Allen admits he’s more comfortable going no huddle. Daboll said sometimes it gives you the answers before taking the test. Other players believe it is how they’re best suited to play.
And as Dion Dawkins told me, if it keeps resulting in wins, then the Bills should keep doing it.
The Broncos were a top five defense entering last Sunday and the Bills rolled off 424 yards of total offense. The Cowboys enter sixth in yards (318.5) and points per game (19.1).
It’s a tall task once again for the Bills offense, but something that should be attacked with the no huddle.
Keep Serving Singletary
Remember when Sean McDermott said Devin Singletary AND Frank Gore were both the Bills feature backs?
Remember when Singletary followed up a career-high 20 carries for 95 yards against Washington with just eight for 42 in the loss at Cleveland?
I think we’ve finally turned a corner to where the rookie is now the focal point he needs to be.
Singletary has back-to-back weeks with double-digit carries, including a new career-high 21 carries for 106 yards in the W over Denver.
He is the dynamic play-maker this team needs and feeding him on Thanksgiving is a must. If there’s any sort of weakness in the Dallas D it is against the run, where they rank 16th (104.8 YPG).
Gore can continue to be a complimentary piece, where he was good against the Broncos, but this is now the Motor Show.
Pick Your Poison
The Cowboys offense is an absolute force.
- 433 total YPG (1st in NFL)
- 303.5 pas YPG (1st in NFL)
- 129.8 rush YPG (8th in NFL)
- 3.01% sack percentage (1st in NFL)
- 23.8 1st downs per game (2nd in NFL)
- 48.51% 3rd down percentage (2nd in NFL)
- 26.8 PPG (6th in NFL)
Dak Prescott is easily having the best season of his career (and it comes in a contract year, so he’s about to get PAID!). Prescott’s 3,433 passing yards are most in the NFL. His 21 touchdown passes are tied for third. He’s only been sacked 12 times. If there is one thing he’s had trouble with it’s throwing interceptions, with his 10 tied for the fourth most in the NFL.
HIs weapons include Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb, and Jason Witten. Then of course there’s Ezekiel Elliott, a multiple time NFL rushing champion. That said, Zeke having the lowest production of his young career with 83.5 YPG. Still he’s seventh in the league in rushing yards with 919 and tied for sixth with seven TDs.
The Bills defense really has a chance to show what they’re made of, entering third in the NFL in yards allowed (288.6) and against the pass (184.3). More so, we’ll find out if that run defense is truly fixed after back-to-back solid performances.
What a Rush
While the Bills offense has turned to the no huddle the past two weeks to ramp up their production, the defense has been far more aggressive with more blitzing. In turn the sack numbers have gone up, with seven against the Dolphins and four more against the Broncos. Shaq Lawson, Star Lotuleli, and Ed Oliver all have sacks in both those games.
The Cowboys may just have the best offensive line in the NFL, so it may be a tough-go to get to Prescott the same way they’ve gotten to the QB the past two weeks, but we’ll see if Leslie Frazier still dials it up until it stops working.
Bills Injury Report
OUT: T Ty Nsekhe (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: C Mitch Morse (hand), WR Robert Foster (hamstring)
Bills and Cowboys kick things off on Thanksgiving from AT&T Stadium in Arlington at 4:30 PM EST.