CeeDee Lamb dropped three of Dak Prescott’s passes last Sunday, but the Cowboys quarterback isn’t doubting the wideout heading into Thursday’s game against the Chiefs.
Lamb and Prescott have played a lot of games together, which has provided Prescott with confidence in Lamb’s ability to follow up shaky performances with outstanding ones. That’s exactly what Prescott is predicting for Thanksgiving.
“Huge game,” Prescott said, via the team’s website. “Just go back and look at the career, right? Any game that maybe he’s not done to his standard or had a drop here or been a frustrating game, the way he’s responded has been unquestionable. I know early in this year, it was the same way from the first time we played them to his next game, I don’t expect this to be any different.”
The Cowboys beat the Eagles despite Lamb’s dropped passes and back-to-back victories have sparked some hope that the 5-5-1 team can make a late run at the playoffs. Lamb will be crucial to that effort, so everyone in Dallas will be hoping that history repeats itself this week.
The Chiefs will play on Thanksgiving for the first time in Patrick Mahomes’ career when the club plays the Cowboys on Thursday afternoon.
In his Tuesday press conference, Mahomes was asked about playing on the holidays.
“You grow up watching Thanksgiving games no matter who you’re a fan of,” Mahomes said. “If it’s the Lions, Cowboys, or whoever is playing at night, you grow up watching those games. I think that kid in me wants to be able to go out there and play on Thanksgiving and find a way to win.
“Obviously, a short week where we’re grinding in here right now and getting the whole game plan in and making sure everybody’s prepared and ready to go. I think we’re excited to get to go out there and play on Thanksgiving against a really good football team and the whole world watching.”
It will be even more special for Mahomes because he’ll have a lot of family and friends in attendance, with the game being in Texas. The quarterback noted his wife, Brittany, has arranged for more than 50 people to come see the game.
“Just getting to play back at home, and obviously have a lot of people in attendance that may not get to come up to Kansas City all the time and watch games,” Mahomes said, “it will be a really cool experience to play there [at AT&T Stadium], especially on Thanksgiving, and I’ll have a lot of family and friends in the stands.”
For years, Americans welcomed John Madden into their homes on Thanksgiving. The NFL is ensuring that Madden’s legacy remains a part of the holiday.
This year the NFL will once again celebrate Madden on Thanksgiving, with tributes to Madden broadcast on Fox, CBS and NBC during the Packers-Lions, Chiefs-Cowboys and Bengals-Ravens game.
Players on all six teams will wear patches honoring Madden’s legacy on their jerseys, and the coin toss for all three games will feature a silhouette of Madden as heads and a six-legged turducken as tails.
The MVP of each of the three games will receive a Madden trophy and will choose a high school or youth football program that will receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation. Items from the three games will also be auctioned with proceeds going to the John Madden Foundation for the youth of Oakland.
As part of the Bengals-Ravens game, Peacock will offer an EA Sports Madden NFL Cast that blends elements of the video game with the live broadcast. The Madden NFL Cast will use the sky cam angle behind the quarterback as the primary camera angle, the same primary angle that Madden players are accustomed to.
Madden was known to one generation of football fans as a Hall of Fame coach, to a second generation as the NFL’s most popular broadcaster, and to a third generation for the video game that bears his name. He died in December of 2021 at the age of 85. Since 2022, the NFL has honored him each year on Thanksgiving.
There is some positive news on the Cowboys’ injury report when it comes to one of their top offensive weapons.
Receiver George Pickens was upgraded to a limited participant on Tuesday after he was estimated as a non-participant on Monday.
Pickens is dealing with knee and calf injuries. Pickens has finished with 144 and 146 yards over the last two weeks in wins over the Raiders and Eagles, respectively.
In 11 games with Dallas this year, Pickens has 67 receptions for 1,054 yards with a career-high eight touchdowns.
Pickens was not the only player upgraded, as defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (elbow) and receiver KaVontae Turpin (shoulder/illness) also went from DNP to limited on Tuesday’s report.
Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) remained a non-participant.
Cornerback Caelen Carson (hamstring) was added to the injury report as limited.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clooney (neck), defensive end Dante Fowler (shoulder), safety Malik Hooker (toe/thigh), and safety Donovan Wilson (neck) all remained limited.
Cornerback DaRon Bland (wrist), defensive end James Houston (wrists/knee), fullback Hunter Luepke (hip), guard Tyler Smith (knee), and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (calf) all remained full.
The Chiefs upgrade the participation levels for two wideouts on Tuesday’s injury report.
Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Xavier Worthy (ankle) both went from being listed as limited on Monday to full participation. Head coach Andy Reid said earlier in the day that he thought both players were on track to play on Thursday and the listing keeps them on that path.
Reid also said that running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) will play against the Cowboys. He was listed as a full participant along with linebacker Leo Chenal (knee), quarterback Patrick Mahomes (groin), defensive end George Karlaftis (thumb), and right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee).
Tight end Noah Gray (concussion) and right guard Trey Smith (ankle) remained out of practice. Cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace (back) was the only player listed as a limited participant.
