Bills at Cowboys: 5 matchups to watch

The Buffalo Bills face the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in an important game that have potential playoff implications for both teams.

The Bills will be facing the Dallas Cowboys for a Turkey Day clash, and will be looking to pull an impressive upset on the big stage. Dallas sits at 6-5 and are coming off a poor loss to the New England Patriots, while the Bills are 8-3 and are coming off an important victory vs. Denver.

Both teams are jockeying for playoff positions before the homestretch of the season. With that being said, here are five important matchups to watch on Thanksgiving:

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Ezekiel Elliot vs. Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano 

Ezekiel Elliot is one of the best running backs in football and has the burden of carrying Dallas’s offense. In four of the Cowboys losses this season Zeke was held to under 100 yards, which means that the entire Bills defense needs to be on the top of their game to stop the Pro Bowl running back. If Buffalo wants a shot at winning they will need to hold Zeke to under 100 yards.

Holding Elliot to under 100 yards is easier said than done though. On his 215 rushing attempts this season he has 919 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Elliot averages 4.9 yards per carry, while the Bills defense allows 4.4 yards per attempt which is 20th in the NFL. Luckily for the Bills, Elliot has only managed 3.1 yards per carry in his past three games. 

The leaders of the Bills defense, Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano will be spearheading the rush defense to prevent Ezekiel Elliot from dominating Buffalo. In the past two weeks, Milano and Edmunds have been sent on more blitzes on crucial downs which has led to the two making blowing up plays in the backfield. 

Milano and Edmunds have combined for 153 tackles this season, with 17 of them coming in the backfield. If Edmunds and Milano want to prevent Elliot from dominating the game, they will need to make plays in the backfield and at the line of scrimmage. 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Niners LB Kwon Alexander is a big fan of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin

See what former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander had to say about his former teammates.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers easily have the best receiving duo in the league in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

In last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, both receivers surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Evans (1,043 yards) now has six-straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, tied with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most in NFL history.

For Godwin (1,071 yards), the third-year star out of Penn State, it was his first time eclipsing the mark. But, given how well he’s played this season and his age (23), it probably won’t be his last.

The duo has given Bucs fans something to cheer about this season, and it seems as though one former Buccaneers player is among those fans.

See what San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander had to say on this Instagram post from Evans a few days ago.

View this post on Instagram

M1K3 x RodGod #1k #Gs

A post shared by Mike Evans (@mikeevans) on

Alexander was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of LSU, but signed with the San Francisco 49ers this past offseason. Alexander tore his pectoral muscle in the Niners’ Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals and has been ruled out for the rest of the year.

Which means he has plenty of time to catch some Bucs games!

[lawrence-related id=25498,25468,25483,25490]

Anthony Davis returned to New Orleans and dropped 41 on the Pelicans

Anthony Davis had one of his best games of the season in his first trip back to New Orleans.

Anthony Davis returned to New Orleans as a Laker for the first time since requesting a trade away from the city where he started his NBA career, and fans who packed the Smoothie King Center showered Davis with boos when he was introduced on Wednesday night.

Davis responded with one of his strongest performances of the season. He scored his first points of the game on a thunderous alley-oop from LeBron James, and went on to score a season-high 41 points, with nine rebounds and three steals. Davis sealed a close win for the Lakers in the final seconds, stealing an inbounds pass meant for Brandon Ingram with 4.2 seconds left in a two-point game.

With the win, the Lakers swept their four-game roadtrip and improved to 16-2 on the season, two games clear of the second-place Nuggets in the West.

[opinary poll=”will-the-lakers-win-the-nba-title-this-s” customer=”forthewin”]

[vertical-gallery id=873797]

Broncos vs. Chargers broadcast map: Will the game be on TV?

Will the Broncos’ game against the Chargers air on television this week? View the TV broadcast map here.

The Denver Broncos (3-8) will host the Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 13 of the 2019 NFL season on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2:25 p.m. MT. The game will air on CBS and in-market fans can stream the contest using FuboTV (try it free).

Andrew Catalon (play-by-play) and James Lofton (analyst) will call the game for CBS. On the radio, the game will air nationally on Sports USA.

On local radio, the contest will air on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM and The Fox 103.5 FM in English. The contest will also air in Spanish on KNRV 1150 AM.

Fans in the blue areas will get the game on local CBS stations, according to 506sports.com.

(506sports.com)

Those in the red will see the Oakland Raiders (6-5) face the Kansas City Chiefs (7-4). Those in the gray won’t see a late game due to NFL blackout rules.

The Broncos are considered 1.5-point underdogs against the Chargers.

[vertical-gallery id=628347]

Browns injury update: Eric Murray, Greg Robinson miss practice

Browns injury update: Eric Murray, Greg Robinson miss practice on Wednesday

The Browns are carrying some injuries into the Thanksgiving holiday with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the table for the weekend. Left tackle Greg Robinson was not practicing after being placed in the concussion protocol after reporting concussion symptoms to the team.

This was further validated when the Browns shared their Week 13 injury report and Greg Robinson was listed as “DNP” due to concussion.

Obviously, this is some of the worst news possible for the Cleveland Browns going into a Week 13 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Robinson likely out, Justin McCray would be thrust into starting duties for the second time this season.

Jorge Masvidal on how he’s handling newfound fame: ‘I’m just indoors most of the time now’

https://youtu.be/OJPOvFxrhA4

[autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] is not one for large crowds.

It’s been an incredible 2019 for Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC), who picked up three stoppage wins during the calendar year with a victory over Darren Till in enemy territory, a record-breaking knockout over Ben Askren at UFC 239 and defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 244, capping off his year by capturing the “BMF” title.

With those accolades came a whole new level fame for Masvidal, who’s been competing in the sport for a long time but never reached superstar status. Of course, the added notoriety also means added media obligations, fan attention and picture requests, which Masvidal admits he’s not all that comfortable with.

[lawrence-related id=465956,463066]

“I’m just indoors most of the time now,” Masvidal said in an interview with Brendan Schaub on “Food Truck Diaries.” “I’m not great at small chat, so when I have to do it all the time, like when I go to the supermarket and you take like 15 pictures – the talking. If it’s just like a picture and a thing, it’s cool, but when it’s like a lot of questions and stuff – and I treat everybody the same. I shook five guys’ hands, I’m not going to be an (expletive) to you like, ‘Oh, you’re the sixth guy, get out of my face,’ so that to me, to have to stay sharp like that the whole day?”

“And plus, my anxiety starts to kick in, so I stay indoors for most of the part,” Masvidal added. “Large crowds give me anxiety, like being in those mosh pits and stuff, you know.”

Despite not being too keen on conversational talk, the American Top Team standout is appreciative of the fans’ support and said he remains happy to meet and greet everyone.

Just don’t stop by the gym while he’s training.

“I’m training at my house, too, most of the time because now when I go to the gym, photoshoot, you know, it’s crazy,” Masvidal said. “And that’s the only time I get mad, actually – when I’m at work. I don’t show up to anybody’s job and start (expletive) with them. ‘What are you doing on this computer,’ you know? One thing is cool if you just get the picture, but then they start talking to you while you’re in the middle of training. It’s like, ‘My brother, my mind’s in another place.'”

[vertical-gallery id=391736]

Ryan Kerrigan’s remarkable start-streak is in danger this Sunday

Kerrigan has started 139 straight games — every game of his career — but the streak is in danger as he goes through the concussion protocol.

Sunday could end up being a historic day for Ryan Kerrigan and the Washington Redskins, but for an unfortunate reason.

Earlier this week, the team’s dynamic edge rusher was held out of practice while in the concussion protocol, and if he were to miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, it will end his streak of 139 consecutive starts. That’s every game of his career, which started in Washington back when he was drafted in 2011.

In that time, Kerrigan has amassed 89 sacks, 319 solo tackles, and 26 forced fumbles, making him one of the most underrated pass-rushers in the league.

“The nature of what he does every day as a professional athlete, he is the prototype model of what a Redskin is all about,” Redskins coach Bill Callahan said, via NBC Sports Washington. “I’ve never seen a pro that takes care of himself the way he does. Diligent in terms of how he prepares, takes care of his body and trains. I mean he is relentless in his training, his regiment, and his preparation. I’ve got the utmost respect for everything that Ryan does for us as a Redskin.”

It would be a big loss to see Kerrigan miss Sunday’s game, not only because of the hole it would leave on the field, but because it marks the end of an impressive streak that is rarely seen in today’s day and age. Here’s to hoping that Kerrigan progresses through the protocol, and he is good to go on Sunday.

[vertical-gallery id=24890]

Titans will not face Colts WR T.Y. Hilton on Sunday

The duo of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton gave the Tennessee Titans the absolute blues for years.

The duo of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton gave the Tennessee Titans the absolute blues for years.

But the team will face neither of those players on Sunday, given Luck’s retirement ahead of the season and Hilton being ruled out for the Sunday matchup.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported on Thursday morning that Hilton had “suffered a setback with his calf injury” and will be out.

[lawrence-related id=22982]

Hilton reeled in four receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown to finish as the team’s leading receiver in the Colts’ 19-17 win over the Titans in Nissan Stadium earlier this season.

In 2019, Hilton has accounted for 35 of Indianapolis’ catches for 378 yards and five touchdowns over seven games.

The Colts’ passing game is always impacted without a healthy Hilton, and it will be interesting to see how well they’re able to compensate for it against a much-improved Titans team.

The Titans and Colts are set to kick off at noon CT on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

How has Texans QB Deshaun Watson grown since he first played against the Patriots?

The first start of Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson’s career was against the New England Patriots. He has grown a lot since then.

The Houston Texans were counting on a rookie first-rounder from Clemson to lead them against the New England Patriots on Sept. 24, 2017.

If the gunslinger could beat Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game, surely this Deshaun Watson could beat the Patriots in their own building.

A victory did not manifest as the Patriots prevailed 36-33 over Houston. But Watson’s 22-of-33 for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions at Gillette Stadium as a rookie gave Texans fans confidence that quarterback may finally be solidified.

33 starts later, there is no question Watson is the man.

“Deshaun’s come a long way,” coach Bill O’Brien told reporters Wednesday. “Anybody that’s as talented as Deshaun, in combination with the work ethic ⁠— he’s just got great work ethic.”

The Texans had a mini-bye as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 20-17 on Thursday Night Football to start Week 12. Even O’Brien told the players they had the weekend off and he would see them Monday.

Not so with Watson, who spent his weekend studying the Patriots and the early morning hours of Wednesday working with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and also O’Brien.

“The guy puts in a ton of work,” O’Brien said. “He’s really passionate about the team, he’s passionate about winning, and I think any time you have that plus you have the incredible talent that he has, you’re going to get better. There’s just no choice. I mean, you’re just going to get better.”

In Week 1 of 2018, Watson’s first game back since tearing his ACL on Nov. 2, 2017, the young signal caller did not have as promising of a day as he completed 17 passes on 34 attempts for 176 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Still, that was over a season and a half ago. The growth in that span has been measurable.

“I think he knows a lot more about the league and defenses and our offense and our personnel and the personnel he’s going up against,” said O’Brien. “So, I think he’s done a great job.”

The Patriots and Texans square off on Sunday Night Football at 7:20 p.m. CT from NRG Stadium.

Could Kaden Smith be a long-term answer at TE for Giants?

Could Kaden Smith be a long-term answer at the tight end position for the New York Giants?

The New York Giants came into this season with a long line of contenders at the tight end position. They ended up letting a few of them go and 12 weeks into the season, the Giants have found themselves in the odd position of scrambling for bodies.

With Evan Engram (foot) and Rhett Ellison (concussion) still not practicing, the Giants will once again turn to Scott Simonson, who was injured in preseason and signed back to the roster on November 12, and rookie Kaden Smith, picked up on waivers in mid-September.

Smith, a sixth-round pick out of Stanford in this year’s NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, was scooped up on waivers by the Giants after the Niners waived him in Week 3 of the season. San Fran was likely planning for Smith to clear waivers and re-sign him to the practice squad but the Giants had him on their radar.

Against the Bears last week in Chicago, Smith was targeted six times, catching five for 17 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown.

“I thought his first outing was pretty good,” head coach Pat Shurmur said on Wednesday. “We liked him from the get-go. He was a guy we liked last year in the draft. The 49ers picked him up, and then when he was available, we wanted to make him a part of our team. He has good instincts, he’s tough. It wasn’t too big for him.

“Anytime you put a rookie in there for the first time, you wonder. You have all these things you think about a young man. Then you put him in there, you wonder if it’s going to be too big for him and it wasn’t. You walk away from that and say, ‘He did a lot of really good things. There are some things he could do better. But his involvement in the game, he handled it really well so you can build on that.”

Maybe the Giants will build on that. Ellison is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $7.188 million and Engram is scheduled to have his fifth-year option extended to him next spring.

The Giants may end up parting ways with both. Ellison is not worth that cap hit and Engram has been hurt so often one wonders if the Giants want to stay in business with him.

That’s where Smith and Simonson come in. Naturally, they are cheaper versions of Ellison and neither is on the level of a healthy Engram, but the Giants will take a good, long look at both so if they have to make those hard decisions, they’ll at least have a body of work to draw on.

[lawrence-related id=633749,633714,633739]