Week 13 of the NFL season kicks off on Thursday as the Dallas Cowboys travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints.
Taysom Hill is expected to start at quarterback for the Saints on Thursday Night Football, which will be just the fifth start of his career under center. Last season, in a 24-9 win over the Falcons, Hill did something that only four other players have done in NFL history: started his first career game at quarterback after the age of 30.
After each losing on Thanksgiving, the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans will have a chance for redemption one Thursday later when they meet at the Caesars Superdome in prime time.
Fortunately for the Cowboys (7-4), they have finished their matchups with the AFC West. On Thanksgiving Day, Dallas dropped its third game against members of that division. That loss accounted for the Cowboys’ third defeat in less than four weeks.
Meanwhile, the Saints (5-6) only scored six points against the Bills. That equaled their lowest total during Sean Payton’s tenure. The Texans held them to just two field goals at Houston on Nov. 29, 2015. New Orleans has now lost four in a row to fall below .500 for the first time this season.
Despite their losses, both teams are squarely in the NFC playoff picture. Dallas has a two-game cushion over Washington in the NFC East, while New Orleans is one of four 5-6 teams in a virtual tie for the seventh seed.
The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 17-13, although the Saints hold a 9-6 advantage in New Orleans. The franchises faced each other eight times in the previous 12 seasons, with the Saints winning five of those matchups.
Dak Prescott is without a doubt of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and is a prime example no matter where you get drafted, it doesn’t define your NFL career.
He was drafted in the fourth round and in the offseason signed a massive four-year $160million contract. He is the current favourite to win Comeback Player of the Year.
Against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving, Prescott threw for 375-yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys lost 36-33 in overtime. Although it was his defense that cost the Cowboys the game as they were routinely penalised which helped Derek Carr and the Raiders offense.
We fully expecting Prescott to deliver again and to return the Cowboys on winning course, continuing Orleans misery.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys -4