Cowboys BREAKING: Titans Starting 3rd-String QB Josh Dobbs - Thursday Injuries, Odds, Playoff Move
On a short week, the Dallas Cowboys travel to face the Tenneesee Titans on Thursday night from Nissan Stadium. The Cowboys are hoping to reach 12 wins and add to the Titans’ five-game losing streak.
And the Titans are apparently making a call that helps Dallas’ cause.
Tennessee is fresh off a deflating loss to the NFL’s worst Houston Texans. The hot Jacksonville Jaguars are tied with the Titans for first in the AFC South with a pivotal head-to-head matchup looming in Week 18. Winner of that game will likely take the division crown, meaning the matchup against the Cowboys does not have postseason implications for the Titans.
Dallas has secured a playoff berth and still has a slight chance at winning the NFC East Division. The Cowboys would have to win out and the Eagles would have to lose out for Dallas to top Philadelphia as NFC East Division champions.
The Cowboys running back duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard can each reach career heights on Thursday. Pollard needs 12 rushing yards to reach 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career, the ninth Cowboys running back to do so. Elliott has scored a rushing touchdown in eight straight games, a career-long streak and the longest active streak in the NFL.
However, Elliott and Pollard will be facing a stout Titans rushing defense, ranking second in rushing yards allowed per game.
Dallas, which leads the league with 30 takeaways, was going to look to get after rookie quarterback Malik Willis as Ryan Tannehill is out. Oh, and slowing running back Derrick Henry this season has proved difficult: Henry is nearing 1,500 yards with 13 total touchdowns.
But the Titans are now expected to rest many starters, with third-string practice-squader QB Josh Dobbs - who has been with the team for a week - getting the nod. That’s a sign that Henry will sit … and the Cowboys are now 13-point favorites tonight at Tennessee.
The Titans signed Dobbs to the team's 53-man roster earlier in the week.
Dobbs (6-3, 215) last attempted a regular-season pass in 2020. The Tennessee product has appeared in six career games, completing 10-of-17 passes for 45 yards, since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
MILESTONE WATCH: Dak Prescott (163) needs two touchdown passes to tie Troy Aikman (165) for second on the Cowboys all-time passing touchdown list. Tony Romo is first with 248 touchdowns.
RECORDS: Dallas Cowboys (11-4) at Tennessee Titans (7-8)
ODDS: Dallas was a 10.5-point favorite vs. the Titans. … but that’s moving on up.
GAME TIME: Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 7:15 p.m. CT
LOCATION: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN)
TV/RADIO: Prime Video, 105.3 The Fan
THE FINAL WORD: Following a 40-34 win over the Eagles on Christmas Eve in Arlington, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would welcome the idea of again facing the Eagles in the postseason:
"I'd love it!" Jones said on his weekly radio show on 105.3 The Fan. "Because that would mean we're far into the playoffs."
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