For years, the Dallas Cowboys have had the upper hand in their rivalry with the New York Giants. In what’s equated to two free wins in six of the last seven seasons, the Cowboys have consistently turned the Giants into fodder for playoff campaigns. When the goal is winning a Super Bowl, having a franchise quarterback is critical. But when a star is taken off the field by injury, things get turned upside down. New York, at 2-8, is well on its way to a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dallas, with one more win and quarterback Dak Prescott likely out for the year, will join them.

As things stand, the Cowboys hold the 11th pick, compared to the Giants, who trail only the Jacksonville Jaguars for No. 1. But with three wins, America’s Team only needs a few things to break their way to find itself contending for the best player in the draft. If backup quarterback Cooper Rush continues to start, that reality will only become more likely. In Dallas’ 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Rush attempted 23 passes. He generated 45 passing yards. Outside of a flurry of turnovers or outright sabotage, it’s difficult to be less efficient.

Rush and the Cowboys are starting down a not-so-fun end to the season, made worse by lame duck head coach Mike McCarthy and experiments on both sides of the ball that simply didn’t work out. And while the season will be devoid of playoff implications, everything could be on the line in Week 13, when New York visits Dallas for possibly the least appealing Thanksgiving dinner imaginable.

Related: Are Giants Planning To Bench Daniel Jones? With both fan bases pulling for their own team to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, a matchup of backup quarterbacks could turn ugly. But Giants fans don’t have to be concerned just yet. Scarred by the Tommy DeVito “Linsanity” run that took New York out of contention for a top quarterback, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s recent fumble might have been a sign from the football gods that all is not lost. The Giants’ Thanksgiving fate will simply come down to whether they can drag a falling Cowboys team down to their level and beat them with experience. Related: Giants General Manager Remains Confident in Job Security