Gut feeling: Cowboys-Giants personnel predictions

The Cowboys and Giants will meet for the second time in three years on Thanksgiving Day.

The Cowboys won this game 28-20 in 2022 and have already beaten the Giants this year. But things are very different right now, as both of the starting quarterbacks in this game – Dak Prescott and Daniel Jones – are no longer even on the roster. Dak is on IR and Jones was released by the Giants and is expected to go to the Vikings.

But as far as the Giants and Cowboys are concerned, both teams have struggled lately, with Dallas breaking a losing streak on the road to Washington last week. Can the Giants pull off an upset and break their six-game losing streak?

Here’s what the editors had to say about Thursday’s game at AT&T Stadium:

Patrick: OK, now I’m seeing some signs of life in the Cowboys offense and up to this point, this has been the missing ingredient in trying to end the losing streak. The defense has steadily improved and was ineffective against the touted Commanders, leaving Jayden Daniels out of action for most of the game, and I forgive them for the touchdown late in the game because they were the only reason the Cowboys were in the Were able to win in the first place. And with the Giants in shambles at quarterback, Daniel Jones released and Tommy DeVito battling an injury to get into the starting lineup against Drew Lock on Thanksgiving – his previous matchup in November (2023) against Dallas ended in a loss at AT&T Stadium – I can very well see the Cowboys use the momentum of the win in DC to send the completely out-of-shape Giants into the grave over a plate of turkey with all the trimmings, but just barely. The O-line protects and therefore Cooper Rush should be a solid addition to the defensive effort; and throw in another KaVontae Turpin touchdown here, because why not? 24-20, Cowboys

Kyle: Here we go again. Giants and Cowboys on Thanksgiving with pride on the line in Arlington. Dallas is looking to end its six-game home losing streak and consolidate some momentum in the final month of the year. As New York struggles to end their current six-game losing streak and their current seven-game losing streak against the Cowboys alone. For this reason, I believe it will be a closer result than most people expect, especially if Drew Lock starts at quarterback for New York instead of Tommy DeVito. However, I still believe Dallas has more firepower to pull it off. Give me that Cowboys, 27-23 on Thanksgiving.

Nick: This game scares me for the Cowboys. As dysfunctional as the Giants sound right now – they’ve lost six games in a row, are down to a backup quarterback and are talking about playing third QB, players are speaking out in the media, the head coach’s future is in question… hmm, that sounds very familiar to me. And the Cowboys were in the same boat last week, figuring out how to win on the road against a division team. Well, here’s where the Giants find themselves in the same situation. It’s a shorter week for them as they travel to the game on Wednesday. Everything seems like the Cowboys will win this game, but I’m just not so sure. While I know the Cowboys have more talent and should win this game convincingly, that would be too easy. I’ll pick the Cowboys to outlast a stubborn Giants team that plays hard. Since I nicknamed Hunter Luepke “Thanksgiving” because he always gets things thrown on his head, I predict a touchdown for him. I also think Rico Dowdle has his first 100 yard game. I will Cowboys in a close game, 20-19.

Tommy: It’s always harder to beat a team the second time around, but both the Cowboys and Giants have been through a lot personnel-wise since they last played in Week 4. Both teams have different starting quarterbacks now, that’s the biggest difference, and I think it will be the biggest difference in this game. I think Cooper Rush gives Dallas an offensive advantage over Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, who are the Giants’ two quarterback options after firing Daniel Jones. With all the changes both teams have experienced since their last meeting, I think the Cowboys have fared better, which is shocking considering the injuries they’ve been dealing with since traveling to New York. Add to that the fact that Dallas has some real momentum behind them with a tough road win and the defense is starting to play in rhythm and you have, in my opinion, a Cowboys win that fans can enjoy before, during or after their Thanksgiving celebrations. Cowboys 27, Giants 13

Mickey Spagnola: This has increased in recent weeks, and the Cowboys running attack is starting to gain some traction. RB Rico Dowdle has rushed for 139 yards in two of the last three games, an average of just under 4.5 yards per carry, including 86 yards last Sunday in Washington, one yard shy of his career high set this year in Pittsburgh . Time for his first 100-yard day of his career: Thanksgiving Day against the Giants, which gave the Cowboys a 27-10 win. Keep an eye on this too. In the first game against the Giants, a 20-15 Cowboys win, Dak Prescott completed 81.5 percent of his passes (22 of 27) for 221 yards and two touchdowns and achieved a QB rating of 125.5. If the Cowboys O-line can protect Cooper Rush, he should be able to enjoy the Giants’ secondary.