5. Bills a main course on Thanksgiving menu
Eat your heart out, Bills fans.
For the first time in over 20 years, Buffalo is taking the national stage on Thanksgiving. As they get set to face the Dallas Cowboys, a turkey day regular since 1966, the Bills, who are moving from an occasional side dish on the schedule to a main course, are feeling #blessed. Adding to the excitement, the matchup will mark a Thanksgiving debut for many Bills players, including 23-year-old signal caller Josh Allen.
"The coolest part is obviously, I remember growing up, waking up on Thursday, going and eating and watching these games all day and that's all I did," said Allen. Stuffing my face with mashed potatoes. So, I know there's people out there that are going to be doing the same thing and I'm going to have a good support group there from back home, they're making the trip out as well. There's probably about 40 of them. So, good to see them and there's a lot to be thankful for. Super blessed and really can't complain there."
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
4. Cole cooking up TDs with a side of sauce
For a handful of Bills players, the holiday business trip is also a homecoming. Guys such as Jerry Hughes, Ed Oliver, Mitch Morse, Ty Nsekhe, Corey Thompson and Cole Beasley, all have roots in the Lone Star State. For Beasley though, the connection is deeper. An undrafted free agent out of SMU, Beasley got his start in Dallas, where he played from 2012-18. A fan favorite, the wide receiver became known for his ability to make plays and for his unique "saucy feet" touchdown celebration. Since joining the Bills, he's proven a reliable offensive target. The veteran has four touchdowns in 2019 and with one more, will tie his single-season career high. Returning to face his former team, Beasley will bring the sauce – only this time it'll have a Buffalo flavor.
3. Sack Lawson going for seconds
Shaq Lawson is back in action. Looking every bit like the disruptive defender he's shown he can be, Lawson is quickly becoming a quarterback's worst nightmare. During Buffalo's Week 12 dominating win over Denver, the fourth-year defensive end darted and danced around the field, serving up two sacks on Brandon Allen. Ready for a second helping, Lawson and the Bills "D" – a unit that's tallied 11 sacks in just two games – will have their work cut out for them as they square off with QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. With five sacks this season, Lawson is putting up the best numbers of his NFL career. On a roll, expect to see this ack master feasting in the backfield.
2. Smoke earning head spot at the table
The Bills did a lot of work to revamp their offense last offseason and as many fresh faces lined the roster, fans eagerly watched to see how the newcomers would acclimate to their surroundings. A consistent contributor all season long, it's safe to say that John "Smoke" Brown has carved out a place for himself as a top receiver in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's unit, while making his name known around the league. Not only is the six-year wide out leading the Bills with 58 receptions for 856 yards and five touchdowns, he's recorded the most yards by any receiver in the AFC.
1. Humble & Hungry
A phrase that's been adopted throughout Buffalo's locker room this season, "stay humble and hungry" is one that will has come to define the team. Despite their record, the Bills are determined to stay grounded and take things one game at a time. With all eyes on the Cowboys, the Bills do whatever it takes to stuff the competition and advance to 9-3 – the team's best record since 1996. A battle featuring Buffalo's third ranked defense and Dallas' No. 1 offense, this game will bring the energy needed to snap anyone out of a food coma.
Time. To. Eat.
