The Dallas Cowboys Week 12 Thanksgiving day game against the Las Vegas Raiders was a game to remember, but one that many Cowboys fans are already trying to forget. When it comes to Turkey Day games, this is one of the better games in recent memory. With multiple lead changes, tons of penalties, a kickoff-return touchdown, multiple fights pre, and post-game, it was exactly the type of show that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones envisioned when he built the Cowboys' most recent stadium.
The only problem for Jerry is that he probably imagined his team winning these types of games and not the opposite, which is exactly what happened on Thursday afternoon as Derek Carr and the Raiders beat Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in overtime 36-33. That left the Raiders in a good spot as they were trying to avoid a fourth-straight loss and left the Cowboys searching for answers to why they lost another home game when they were big favorites.
Cowboys Week 12 questions to answer
3. Does Ezekiel Elliott need a full week or two off?
Usually coming off of a Thursday night game, your team has ten days to prepare for your team's next game. for the Cowboys this wee, that is not true. They'll be playing next Thursday against the New Orleans Saints, as both teams played on Thursday in Week 12 so it is equal rest for both sides.
That begs the question, with seven days before the Cowboys' next game and 17 games between now and Week 14, should the Cowboys sit Elliott down for the matchup with the Saints, just as the Saints just did against the Bills in benching Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram? That may be the best choice for Dallas, especially with the Philadelphia Eagles breathing down their necks and one game left with the Eagles in week 18.
2. How can the team hide Anthony Brown a little bit more?
Brown was painful to watch in this one, and it was obvious to anyone watching that this was the clear weakest spot on the Cowboys. When you don't throw at Diggs, you usually attack Brown and that was no different on Thursday. Carr repeatedly put the football in spots that his receiver would either catch or have to be interfered with.
Brown continually kept trying the interference route instead of, you know, playing the ball or something. Brown has played above-average football in 20221, though, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), so the Cowboys most likely do not need to demote him. Just being put in different positions on the field would probably help. It's gonna be up to the Cowboys and specifically defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to unlock his potential.
1. How do they cut back on the penalties?
After getting called for more than a dozen penalties on Thanksgiving, Dallas now leads the league with 91 flags called on them. That is not a number indicative of a playoff team and has got to be taken care of. Luckily, Dallas has had the benefit of 90 flags called FOR them, so if they cannot get this penalty situation taken care of, it is looking like they are headed to a losing streak and even a losing record.
A lot of being a disciplined team comes directly from how much accountability the coaching staff hangs on them when they do commit penalties so the coaching staff must get this under control…and fast. The teams who beat themselves in the regular season will also do it in the playoffs, and if Dallas has any plans of getting there and/or winning any games come January, this is the first and the biggest step they need to take.
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