Dallas Cowboys stars no strangers to quick turnaround Thursday games
No other team in the NFL is more at home playing on Thanksgiving Thursday than the Dallas Cowboys.
But the quick turnaround remains a tough proposition for the players, especially those banged up or nursing injuries. Preparation time is cut short and the half week is used as much for recuperation as game-planning.
It’s a little easier when you’re playing the NFC East rival Washington Redskins, who you know well. The Cowboys (5-5) host the Redskins (6-4) for a share of first place in the division at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
Plus, the Cowboys just played the Redskins in Washington a month ago, a 20-17 loss.
“In my three years we’ve been able to handle it pretty well,” Quarterback Dak Prescott said. “This team, this organization is used to a Thursday game, the quick turnaround, every team’s got to do it. You just have to make sure you get film and everything you normally do in a full week, get it done in a short week. We’ve done a good job in preparation and mindset.”
That mindset, Prescott said, remains a ‘backs against the wall’ mentality that took root three weeks ago when the Cowboys dropped to 3-5 after a disastrous home loss to the Titans.
“We said this a couple weeks ago though, we knew that the division was still in front of us. Our backs are still against the wall though,” he said. “We know what this game means. We know how important this game is. Once again, it’s a must-win for us week by week.”
“You know it’s one of those challenging weeks,” said Ezekiel Elliott, who has 273 yards and two touchdowns and 115 yards and a touchdown receiving over the past two games. “You just physically can’t go out there and get those physical reps. Your body is beat up from playing two days ago. You’ve just got to make sure you get those good mental reps and you get in that film room and just really like paying attention to those plays we’ve got cued up for this week and make sure I’m cued in on everything and ready to go.”
Being ready to go mentally this Thursday shouldn’t be an issue, no matter how quick the turnaround.
“Any time we play the Redskins it’s a big game,” Receiver Cole Beasley said. “We know what this rivalry is. They know us and we know them. There’s going to be little room for error and whoever executes best will win.”