NFL: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys Preview, Betting Predictions & Picks

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Ezekiel ElliottLooking for 10 wins in a row, the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Redskins for the sixth divisional clash on Thanksgiving (4.30pm ET Thursday on Fox). Here we preview this NFL game and finish up with a couple of betting predictions and picks.

As Thanksgiving approaches the Dallas Cowboys have quite a lot to be thankful for. Not only do they have the surefire rookie of the year in Ezekiel Elliott (pictured) but they also have a 9-1 record and look poised to make a deep run in the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years.

Dallas hasn’t lost since the first game of the season, one that they very well could have won if not for wide receiver Terrance Williams failing to get out of bounds and causing the clock to run out on their comeback. Since then however, the Cowboys have been the best team in the NFL, and no other team has really shown signs of passing them. Dallas has a strong roster top to bottom and with one of the best offensive lines in all of football, has managed to develop two of the league’s top players at their respective positions. That of course is Elliott at running back and another rookie sensation, Dak Prescott, at quarterback.

Only the Detroit Lions have played more games and have more wins on Thanksgiving than the Cowboys, who have been a part of this annual tradition almost every year since 1966. Their opponents this Thursday do not have such a rich history of playing on the holiday. In fact, the Washington Redskins have played just seven prior times on Thanksgiving. However, they do have a storied tradition and rivalry with the Cowboys, which has provided for some great games and some truly spectacular moments, including on Thanksgiving where the teams have met six of the seven times the Redskins have been in this game.

History may not play into what happens on Thursday but for the first time in a long time, this head-to-head matchup has real deal playoff and NFC East implications. The Cowboys, despite having the best record in the league, don’t have their division locked up yet because of how strong the NFC East has been all season long. If Washington do win on Thursday, they would find themselves just 1.5 games back with six more to go.

Needless to say, this could be one of the better Thanksgiving games played in recent memory as both the Cowboys and Redskins are playing good football right now and will no doubt bring their A-game to Thursday’s contest. Considering Washington also has yet to defeat their rivals on Thanksgiving, there will certainly be an added element of intrigue associated with the game.

Our Preview’s Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys Betting Picks’ Predictions

Dallas hasn’t lost or even really been in danger of losing a game since the season opener now over two months ago. It has certainly been a start that has gotten the attention of the league as once again the Cowboys look legit and once again, they are asserting dominance over the entire NFL.

Over the last eight consecutive games, the Cowboys have combined for a total of over 400 yards of offense per game, tying both the Denver Broncos (2013) and New England Patriots (2007) for the longest streak of all-time. They will be looking to extend that streak and break that record on Thursday afternoon.

This is all the work of Prescott, who has scored 21 touchdowns, 17 of which has been through the air, and Elliott, who leads the league in rushing with 1,102 yards. Last week against the Baltimore Ravens, quite a good team in their own right, Prescott threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Dez Bryant, who is finding his way in this offense after missing much of the early season. Having Bryant back is absolutely fearsome for Dallas’ opponents as he adds another dimension to this passing attack that makes them even better than they already were and they were already pretty darn good.

Then there’s the Redskins, who behind Kirk Cousins are certainly no laughing matter either. Washington, the defending NFC East champs, have recorded over 500 yards offensively twice this season, tying a franchise record dating back to 1950. One of these games came last week against the Green Bay Packers as Cousins helped produce two 100-yard receivers in Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder and Robert Kelley added 100 yards on the ground. This was the first time Washington put up those stats since 1999, in a game against, who else but the Cowboys.

This is the Redskins’ best start since 1996 and like the Cowboys, they opened up their year with a loss, two to be exact, including one in the second week of the season against the Cowboys. Since then, Washington has gone 6-1-1.

Two notes worthy of consideration are that the Cowboys have a 29-18-1 record on Thanksgiving including a franchise high 6-1 record against the Redskins. However, they have lost each of the past two years on the holiday and Washington has won each of their last two visits to AT&T Stadium. But then again, that Dallas team didn’t have Prescott or Elliott, who may be the best rookie QB/RB combination the league has ever seen.

At home, the Cowboys are of course favorites but given how good the Redskins have been and how competitive these matchups have been lately, especially on Thanksgiving, the seven point margin the major U.S. friendly sportsbooks are giving them does seem a bit steep. So for that reason, take the Redskins to best the spread, even though if you are betting straight up, the Cowboys are the best pick.

Our preview’s Redskins at Cowboys betting picks and predictions are:

  • Bet on the Washington Redskins +7pts @ -110 with Bovada Sportsbook. It is -115 for the same spread with 5Dimes, BetOnline and Bookmaker.
  • As for the total points to be scored, it’s at 51pts. Take the over as these two will play to another close game with both teams scoring at least in the 20s like they did their first meeting this season. Go over 51 points @ -110 with 5Dimes, BetOnline or Bookmaker. It is the same odds but over 51.5pts with Bovada.