Two of the league's best quarterbacks square off on Thanksgiving Day as Derek Carr and Dak Prescott lock horns in the Raiders vs Cowboys Week 12 game. Which team will emerge with the much-needed win in this matchup?
Las Vegas Raiders installed as +7 underdogs
Las Vegas' losing woes show no sign of ending as the Raiders crashed to their third consecutive defeat with an embarrassing 32-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders had no answer for Joe Mixon, who rushed for 123 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
It was a disappointing defeat for the Raiders, who are now 0-3 following their bye week. The Raiders headed into their break at the top of the AFC West standings but now find themselves trailing the Kansas City Chiefs by 1.5 games.
The Raiders will look to get their season back on track when they face the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. For Las Vegas to record the much-needed win in Week 12, it needs Derek Carr to deliver a quality performance. He looked out of sorts in the loss to the Bengals, finishing 19 of 27 for 215 yards with just one touchdown and one interception.
It is critical for the Raiders that they convert on their third down opportunities against the Cowboys. They failed to convert their first six third-down attempts against Cincinnati. The Raiders also failed to convert their last eight third-down attempts in their last game against Kansas City, contributing to their offensive woes in the past two outings.
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Dallas Cowboys enter Week 12 as -7 favorites
The Dallas Cowboys lost for the second time in three games, suffering a 19-9 defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. Dak Prescott struggled mightily in this contest, completing just 28 of 43 passes for 216 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
The league's top-ranked offense had difficulty moving the chains, going just 5 of 15 on its third down opportunities against Kansas City. The Cowboys were missing several key players in this contest, with left tackle Tyron Smith sidelined for a third straight game with an ankle issue and Amari Cooper testing positive for COVID-19.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb also sustained a concussion during the second quarter and did not return in the game against the Chiefs. That is concerning for the Cowboys, as their Thanksgiving showdown with the Raiders is just a few days away. Cooper has already been ruled out for that game as he is still on the reserve/COVID-19 list because of his unvaccinated status.
It is critical for the Cowboys that they protect Prescott under center. Dallas' offensive line was dismantled all afternoon long by Kansas City, with the Chiefs sacking Prescott five times, 3.5 of which came from Chris Jones.
Writer's Prediction
Dallas wins, but Las Vegas covers the spread.
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