One thread that has bound the Las Vegas Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys over the past few decades has been the maverick status of their owners. The Raiders were owned for decades by Al Davis, whose “Just win, baby!” slogan and refusal to follow the unwritten rules for decorum in the league drew the admiration of one of the NFL’s most unusual fan bases. In Dallas, Jerry Jones begged for a salary cap, went to court to get the right to sign his own team deal with athletic apparel companies and then begged the league’s other owners for financing to help him build AT&T Stadium. Now the two teams meet on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas; the Raiders have not beaten the Cowboys since 2005. Dallas has dropped two of three, with both losses coming against AFC West teams, while the Raiders have dropped three in a row, going from 5-2 to 5-5. Which team will prevail on Thursday?
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NFL Thanksgiving Preview: Las Vegas Raiders at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday, November 25)
When: Thursday, November 25, 2021, 4:30 pm ET
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
TV: CBS
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: Dallas -7.5 / O/U 51.5 // Dallas -340 / Las Vegas +270
Why should you bet on the Raiders?
This line opened at Dallas -5, before the Week 11 games, and has widened significantly since then, despite the fact that Dallas lost at Kansas City. Las Vegas was shellacked by Cincinnati last week, 32-13, as quarterback Derek Carr had 215 passing yards, a touchdown and a pick. The Bengals held the Raiders to just 278 yards of total offense; the Raiders have only scored 43 points in their last three games combined. They rank 28th in the NFL in rushing offense, although their passing game is third overall, as Carr throws for 289.6 yards per game.
The Raiders’ defense is an issue, as they have permitted 26.2 points per game, good for 26th in the league. They rank 13th in overall defense, permitting 325.9 yards per game. Four Raiders share the team lead in interceptions with one apiece, and Maxx Crosby leads the defense with five sacks. If you like the Raiders, you see them doing enough to stack the box and dare Dak Prescott to beat them down the field. That approach worked for the Broncos and the Chiefs; will it work for the Raiders?
Why should you put your money on the Cowboys?
The Cowboys saw their record dip to 7-3 after losing to Kansas City, 19-9, on Sunday. Dallas still leads Philadelphia in the NFC East by 2 ½ games, but they turned the ball over three times and only picked up 276 yards on the day. Prescott threw for 216 yards and a pair of picks, and Ezekiel Elliott carried the ball for just 32 yards on nine attempts. Amari Cooper (COVID-19) missed the Chiefs game and will also miss Thursday’s game. CeeDee Lamb (concussion protocol) had to leave the Chiefs game and is questionable for Thursday.
Dallas’ defense has been a pleasant surprise this season, permitting 21.4 points per game, good for eighth in the league. They permit 358.5 yards per game, 18th overall. Micah Parsons leads the team with eight sacks, and cornerback Trevon Diggs leads the league with eight picks.
Despite only putting up nine points against the Chiefs, Dallas is still third in the league in scoring, putting up 29.3 points per game. Dak Prescott has a 69.6 percent pass completion rate, and Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard have combined for 1,190 yards and eight scores. If you like the Cowboys, you see their offense taking over and pulling away in the second half.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
Dallas let a chance get away on Sunday, squandering a solid defensive effort. As Troy Aikman said during the Cowboys-Chiefs game, “If this Dallas offense is what they think it is, they need to score touchdowns against this defense,” and the Cowboys could not seal the deal. I think the Cowboys win here, 30-20.
Las Vegas Raiders at Dallas Cowboys: Bet the Game Today
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