Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers 2017: Thanksgiving Prediction, Betting Odds, Preview

When the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers meet on Thanksgiving, both teams will be looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. A loss in Week 12 could knock Dallas or L.A. out of postseason contention, though the betting odds indicate that neither team has the advantage.

The opening betting line lists the game as a pick’em, per OddsShark, and the over/under is 47.5. The Chargers and their 4-6 record are one game worse than the Cowboys, but Dallas isn’t favored at home because of how much they’ve struggled without three of their best players.

Dallas was embarrassed at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Sunday night with a 37-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the team’s second straight loss by at least 20 points, a downward spiral that began with the suspension of Ezekiel Elliott. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith has missed the last two games, as well, and linebacker Sean Lee suffered an injury in the Cowboys’ Week 10 defeat.

The impact of losing Smith and Elliott has been glaring.

Dallas has totaled 16 points in the last two weeks, finding their way into the end zone just once. From Weeks 3-9, the Cowboys never failed to score at least 28 points. After throwing for 13 touchdowns and two interceptions during that stretch, Dak Prescott has no touchdown passes and three interceptions in Weeks 10 and 11.

Elliott definitely won’t suit up Thursday afternoon, and Smith’s status is still unknown. A struggling Dallas offense will take on an L.A. defense that ranks among the NFL’s best.

The Chargers blew past the Buffalo Bills 54-24 in Week 11, recording their fourth win in six tries. L.A. had five first-half interceptions, moving up to seventh in opponents’ passer rating. The Chargers are one of 10 teams that allow fewer than 20 points per game.

Even when Los Angeles was looking for its first win, the defense was still playing relatively well. The unit hasn’t even given up 27 points in a single game, led by the best combination of pass rushers that the league has to offer.

Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram have totaled 19 sacks on the year. Prescott has been sacked 12 times in the last two games.

Because the defense has been so consistent, L.A. is hard to beat when Philip Rivers isn’t making mistakes. The quarterback has eight touchdowns and just one interception in the team’s four victories. Rivers has nine touchdowns and six picks in the Chargers’ six losses.

The Cowboys aren’t particularly good at forcing opposing quarterbacks into making mistakes. Only four teams have fewer than their five interceptions on the season.

The Chargers have taken advantage of a weak schedule to stay in the postseason hunt, beating four teams with losing records. Both of their losses in their last six games have come at the hands of division leaders.

Dallas has a .500 record, but without Elliott, Lee and possibly Smith, the Cowboys are a losing team.

Prediction: Los Angeles over Dallas, 26-17