Week 13’s Thanksgiving matchup is a battle of the NFC East basement. The 4-7 Cowboys host the 2-9 Giants in what figures to be an aperitif for the day’s big dinner. In what was supposed to be showcase of Dallas’ dominance is nothing more than a battle for draft positioning with the slightest hope a playoff run twinkling off in the distance.
After three consecutive 12-win seasons the Cowboys have crashed back to earth in 2024. Looking for a reset but unwilling to tank like their east coast opponent, Dallas is largely playing for pride and for building a base for the future.
Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys top draft pick in 2024, is one of many players hoping to cement his role on the team. The rookie left tackle has been in and out of the lineup most of the season. He’s predictably suffered through many growing pains as evidenced by his low blocking scores and his high penalty counts. Many times, it’s been his replacement Asim Richards who’s been the better LT.
Guyton is a first-round pick and figures into the starting mix down the road but the same can’t be said for other Cowboys trying to prove their long-term value on Thanksgiving afternoon.
Is Josh Butler for real?
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Josh Butler is coming off a career week in Washington and is now officially playing for a long-term role on the Cowboys. While the top two spots are locked down with DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs for the foreseeable future, CB3 may be up for grabs if Jourdan Lewis leaves after the season.
Butler, an UDFA, has spent time in the USFL and the Cowboys practice squad over the past two years. He flashed in training camp this past summer showing the ability to matchup against a variety of receivers and manning both the boundary and nickel positions.
Butler was absolutely stunning in Week 12 and stands to gain a prominent role down the road if he can keep showing the same solid fundamentals he showed everyone last week.
Can Bass and Hoffman be long-term answers on the OL?
Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard T.J. Bass (66) Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Making surprise starts in the place of the injured Tyler Smith and Zack Martin, T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman enjoyed stellar days at guard against the Commanders in Week 12. Bass showed he’s one of the NFL’s best reserve guards and Hoffman showing he’s not just a center option but also a special player next door at guard.
Bass has long looked like the heir apparent to Martin so his good showing wasn’t overly surprising. He may never develop into a Pro Bowl lineman but he looks more than capable of locking down the spot in average-to-above-average capacity should the opportunity arise in 2025.
What came out of nowhere was the play of Hoffman. After a disappointing training camp and preseason, Hoffman somewhat dropped out of the picture. That changed suddenly in Week 12 when Hoffman dominated his opponents physically as well as mentally. Was it a blip on the radar or is Hoffman suddenly a viable starting option down the road?
It’s unknown if Smith and/or Martin will play on Thursday but if they can’t it will be a great opportunity for their injury replacements to show they’re the real deal.
Is Rush good enough to drive the bus to the playoffs?
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Cooper Rush might not be a franchise quarterback but he’s a capable bus driver who has shown he can make the right throw and avoid the wrong throw. He’s won games for Dallas in the past but unlike previous situations, Dak Prescott isn’t swopping in to take over down the stretch this year.
If the Cowboys want to dream dreams of defying odds and making the postseason they’ll need their QB to be good enough. Week 12 was a great bounce back for Rush posting his first positive CPOE of the season. On the season Rush ranks 39 of 40 in CPOE+EPA composite score. Only Anthony Richardson is worse (of those with 100 or more attempts).
At the very least Rush has to play more like the Week 12 version of himself for the Cowboys even to have a chance down the stretch. Week 13 will be a great chance for him to build on his success.
Can the Cowboys clean up dumb mistakes?
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The Cowboys played well on all sides of the ball in Week 12 but were still littered with back-breaking mistakes. Bad snaps, dumb penalties, blocked punts, blocked kicks, and missed tackles ended otherwise solid drives.
Good teams aren’t making these mistakes in Week 13. If the Cowboys want to sell hope, they have to sell they can play smart.
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 11: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys in the second half during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
