As tradition has it, three NFL games are scheduled today on Thanksgiving Day in the United States. After the one between the Lions and the Bears, which ended in a Chicago win of 16-14, RDS and RDS Direct present the one between the Raiders and the Cowboys.
Raiders c. Cowboys
PRE-MATCH
Will the Cowboys (7-3) finally manage to contain a defense of the American West Division? They scored 20 points against the Chargers, 16 against the Broncos and 9 against the Chiefs. Denver and Kansas City were physical on the perimeter, which allowed them to generate pressure against a defensive line that was deprived of left tackle Tyron Smith. The latter is expected to play against the Las Vegas Raiders (5-5), who rank 26e tied in the NFL for points allowed on average per game (26.2). The Cowboys offense must wake up, even if it will have to make do without receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.
The names of Joe Philbin, Cowboys offensive line instructor, and Kendall Smith, assistant coach in charge of the team’s physical conditioning, have also been placed in NFL protocols related to COVID-19. and are sidelined in the game against the Raiders.
As a result, the Cowboys are deprived of an instructor for the second time in three games due to health and safety protocols. Skip Peete, a running backs instructor, missed the Cowboys’ last home game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein was also out against the Falcons, and wide receiver Amari Cooper is set to miss a second straight game against the Raiders after testing positive for COVID-19.
Cooper is unvaccinated and must be sidelined for at least 10 days after missing Sunday’s game in Kansas City.
The Cowboys have faced issues related to COVID-19 during the pre-season schedule and in the early weeks of the season. The situation had improved until Zuerlein’s absence.
The Raiders will not be able to count on linebacker coach Richard Smith due to COVID-19 protocols.
Bills c. Saints
RDS, RDS Direct – 20 h 20
PRE-MATCH
The Bills (6-4) and Saints (5-5) are in desperate need of a bounce back tonight. The Saints have suffered three straight losses for the first time since 2016 and will be without the services of all-star backer Alvin Kamara in a third straight game with a knee injury. For their part, the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen have had a string of turnovers recently, as they lost two of their three most recent games and lost possession of first place in the East American Division.
