3 KEY MATCHUPS
1. WR John Brown vs. CB Chidobe Awuzie
This is an underrated matchup. Brown is the AFC leader in receiving yards and Awuzie has quietly put together a solid season. He's third on the Cowboys in tackles and leads the team in pass breakups with 10.
2. T Cody Ford vs. DE DeMarcus Lawrence
The rookie right tackle performed well against Von Miller last week, but Lawrence is a better all-around player than the Denver pass rusher and will require supreme effort on every play from Ford.
3. Bills run defense vs. Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas will likely focus on using their eighth-ranked run game to soften up Buffalo's defense before taking their shots off play action. Elliott is third in the NFC in rushing yards.
2 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Offense is stout
Though the Patriots made the Dallas offense look rather 'pop gun' last Sunday, the Cowboys still bring the top-ranked offense into Thursday's game. Ranked first in passing yards, Dallas has the talent to strike from anywhere on the field.
Cowboys are elite on third down
When it comes to the money down in football, Dallas is at the top of the league whether on offense or defense. The Cowboys rank second in the league in third down conversion rate at a gaudy 48.5 percent. Conversely, on defense they're just as good holding opponent to a success rate of just 31.4 percent, good for third-best in the NFL.
When the Bills play against the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving, a few players on the roster will be returning to their home state. Scroll through to view photos of the players and their families, and their history in Texas.
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
Cole Beasley touchdown and leap into the fans. Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia Eagles, October 27, 2019 at New Era Field.
Photo by Bill Wippert
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley, who went to SMU, throws out a first pitch before a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
WR Cole Beasley
- Beasley played his high school and college football in Texas, as he attended Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas.
- Originally from Little Elm, Texas, Beasley and his family now live in Junction, Texas. Beasley and his wife Kyrstin have three kids, Ace, Everett and Jovie.
- Beasley also played on the Dallas Cowboys, who he will play against for the first time in Week 13.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) runs the football during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys, 27-3.
DE Jerry Hughes
- Hughes is a native of Sugar Land, Texas and played his college football at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been a member of the Bills since he was acquired via trade in 2013.
- Jerry and his wife Meghan have two children, J.R. and Hayden.
Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) Buffalo Bills vs Washington Redskins at New Era Field on November 3, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
DE Jerry Hughes
- Hughes is a native of Sugar Land, Texas and played his college football at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been a member of the Bills since he was acquired via trade in 2013.
- Jerry and his wife Meghan have two children, J.R. and Hayden.
DE Jerry Hughes
- Hughes is a native of Sugar Land, Texas and played his college football at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been a member of the Bills since he was acquired via trade in 2013.
- Jerry and his wife Meghan have two children, J.R. and Hayden.
TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes (98) follows the action during the first half of an NCAA football game in Fort Worth, Texas. Hughes is a top prospect in the NFL draft.
DE Jerry Hughes
- Hughes is a native of Sugar Land, Texas and played his college football at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been a member of the Bills since he was acquired via trade in 2013.
- Jerry and his wife Meghan have two children, J.R. and Hayden.
DE Jerry Hughes
- Hughes is a native of Sugar Land, Texas and played his college football at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been a member of the Bills since he was acquired via trade in 2013.
- Jerry and his wife Meghan have two children, J.R. and Hayden.
DT Ed Oliver
- A native of Houston, Texas, Oliver played his high school and college football in Texas. He played college football at the University of Houston, where he was the ninth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Bills.
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) celebrates his sack of Denver Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen (2) with Shaq Lawson. Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos, November 24, 2019 at New Era Field.
Photo by Bill Wippert
DT Ed Oliver
- A native of Houston, Texas, Oliver played his high school and college football in Texas. He played college football at the University of Houston, where he was the ninth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Bills.
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) sacks South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Tampa, Fla. Oliver is a possible pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
DT Ed Oliver
- A native of Houston, Texas, Oliver played his high school and college football in Texas. He played college football at the University of Houston, where he was the ninth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Bills.
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) jumps over Rice offensive lineman Uzoma Osuji, center, to get around offensive lineman Jack Greene, right, during an NCAA college football game, in Houston. Oliver is a possible pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
C Mitch Morse
- A native of Austin, Texas, Morse has started all 11 games as a Buffalo Bill so far after being signed as a free agent in the offseason.
- Morse and his wife Catie make frequent visits to Texas in their free time.
Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium on November 10, 2019. Buffalo Bills center Mitch Morse (60).
Photo by Craig Melvin
C Mitch Morse
- A native of Austin, Texas, Morse has started all 11 games as a Buffalo Bill so far after being signed as a free agent in the offseason.
- Morse and his wife Catie make frequent visits to Texas in their free time.
C Mitch Morse
- A native of Austin, Texas, Morse has started all 11 games as a Buffalo Bill so far after being signed as a free agent in the offseason.
- Morse and his wife Catie make frequent visits to Texas in their free time.
LB Corey Thompson
- A native of Missouri City, Texas, Thompson played his high school football at Lawrence Elkins High School before moving on to LSU for college football.
Buffalo Bills linebacker Corey Thompson (52). Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos at New Era Field on November 24, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
OT Ty Nsekhe
- A native of Arlington, Texas, Nsekhe played his high school football at Arlington Bowie High School before playing college football at Texas State University. Nsekhe joined the Bills as a free agent before the 2019 season.
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe (77) Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns, November 10, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10)Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55)Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia Eagles at New Era Field, October 27, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) and defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, September 29, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
1 THING THAT COULD DECIDE THE GAME
Minimizing big plays
The Cowboys have completed 49 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season, good for second in the league. Buffalo's pass defense has only given up 22 such completions all season, which ranks third, and none of them have gone for touchdowns. If the Bills can keep Dallas' big plays to a minimum, Buffalo could pull off an upset.
UNDERCURRENTS
--Dallas could be without LB Leighton Vander Esch, who is dealing with a neck injury. The prevailing report was if Vander Esch missed last Sunday's game against New England, that he would also miss Thursday's game against Buffalo. Sean Lee replaced him in subpackages, with Joe Thomas coming on in base personnel.
--The Cowboys have yet to post a victory over a team with a winning record this season. The Bills however, are in the same boat as none of their eight victories have come against a team with a record above .500 either.
--As effective as Lawrence is as a pass rusher, the more productive edge defender against the pass has been veteran Robert Quinn. He has 9.5 sacks to lead the Dallas defense and also has the most quarterback hits with 18.
--Dallas special teams had a muffed kick return, suffered a blocked punt that led to New England's only TD, and had a missed field goal in a four-point loss to the Patriots last week. The Cowboys rank 27th in punt return average, last in kick return average, 29th in punt coverage and 24th in kick coverage.
--Amari Cooper had been playing through a knee injury of late and in Week 11 played in just 55 percent of the offensive snaps. Though he was effectively shut out by Stephon Gilmore in last Sunday's game he played 81 percent of the snaps, which could be a sign that his knee has improved. He did not appear on the team's injury report last week.
--Starting offensive linemen La'el Collins, Zack Martin and Connor Williams were all listed as limited on Tuesday with a host of injuries.
