Colt McCoy silenced his phone knowing he was coming back to his home state for his first NFL start in four years White Tony Romo Jersey , in the stadium where he helped lead the Texas Longhorns to a shot at a national title as their star quarterback and where he last won a game as a pro.The longtime Washington backup also knows what’s most important as he takes over following Alex Smith’s season-ending leg injury . The Redskins (6-4) can control the NFC East by beating the rival Dallas Cowboys (5-5) in the most traditional of Thanksgiving games Thursday.”I’m thankful for the opportunity, but I think it’s even more than that,” McCoy said. “It’s time to just go play and put everything else aside. We have a huge game this week. It’s a huge game.”McCoy is 2-0 at AT&T Stadium, beating Nebraska for the 2009 Big 12 championship and a spot in the BCS championship game, which Texas lost to Alabama when McCoy got hurt early. The small-town Texas kid beat the Cowboys five years later, completing 25 of 30 passes for 299 yards in a 20-17 overtime win for the Redskins.He’s 32 now, and hasn’t started since the last of three straight defeats late in the 2014 season, a little more than a month removed from that win over the Cowboys. McCoy, a third-round pick by Cleveland in 2010 after that title-game loss to the Crimson Tide, has a career record of 7-18.McCoy is in his fifth year as Washington’s backup and has played just four games over four seasons, including when he replaced Smith in the third quarter of Sunday’s 23-21 loss to Houston. A potential winning drive stalled near midfield Tony Romo Jersey 2019 , and Dustin Hopkins’ 63-yard field goal try fell short with 3 seconds left.”It’s been a while since he’s played in a significant game. That’ll be the challenge,” coach Jay Gruden said.”I know he’s excited as heck, man. He hated to get the opportunity the way he got it with Alex getting hurt. I understand that. But deep down inside, he’s been waiting for this.”Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott has been waiting for another Thanksgiving game since he had to miss last year on his six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations. In his Thanksgiving debut against the Redskins two years ago as a rookie, he jumped into the giant Salvation Army red kettle after a touchdown in a 31-26 Dallas win.The Cowboys have a chance to tie the Redskins for the division lead thanks to their first winning streak of the season, a pair of victories on the road after they were winless in their first four away from home.”We said this a couple weeks ago, though; we knew that the division was still in front of us,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Our backs are still against the wall. We know what this game means. We know how important this game is.”BIG RETURNSWashington could get a major boost if any combination of left tackle Trent Williams, running back Chris Thompson, wide receiver Jamison Crowder and cornerback Quinton Dunbar can return from lengthy injury absences.Williams just needs to feel comfortable blocking after surgery for a dislocated right thumb, and Thompson said his injured ribs feel markedly better this week. Dunbar White DeMarco Murray Jersey , who’s dealing with nerve damage as part of a shin injury, feels “pretty close” but isn’t sure if he’ll make the problem worse.ELLIOTT’S WORKLOADIt just so happens that Elliott’s season high in touches 鈥?30 in a 22-19 win over Atlanta 鈥?came on the Cowboys’ annual short week. In road wins over the NFC’s past two Super Bowl participants in Philadelphia and Atlanta, Elliott had 55 touches (42 carries, 13 catches) for 388 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.”If that’s what it has to be then that’s what it’s going to be,” said Elliott, who needs 91 yards rushing to overtake idle NFL rushing leader and MVP contender Todd Gurley. “I’m definitely not afraid of that.”BALANCING ACTPart of the Redskins’ challenge in helping McCoy succeed is getting Adrian Peterson going on the ground. Peterson had just 16 carries for 51 yards in the loss to Houston, but ran for two touchdowns and is looking forward to playing back in his home state of Texas.The pressure’s on Peterson and the rest of Washington’s running backs to produce in the running and passing games. The former Oklahoma standout had 99 yards in the earlier win over the Cowboys.GALLUP BACKDallas rookie receiver Michael Gallup is expected to play after rejoining the team Wednesday. He stayed behind with his family after getting the news following the win over the Falcons that his brother died by suicide.”The situation’s unique, the individual’s unique, the circumstances,” coach Jason Garrett said. “I do think for all of us as we go through challenging things, I do think getting back to routine and structure typically can help us.”STARTS WITH DEFENSEThe Redskins Dez Bryant Jerseys 2019 , who haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher, held Elliott to 33 yards in a 20-17 win in the first meeting. It’s the second-lowest total of his career. Both teams are in the top five in scoring defense and in the top six in rushing defense.College football Week 7 game times, TV channels, analysis & predictions 12 PM ET: Tennessee at #21 Auburn on SEC Network - Auburn is one angry football team after first month of football but the Vols are well-restedAfter being defeated by Mississippi State, the Tigers now have two losses on the season in the SEC. Tennessee is coming off their bye week and they know a thing or two about losing, having lost 11-straight conference games. The Vols are going to hope that the rest will do them good as they take on a reeling Auburn team:What to expect: Though Auburn is struggling to run the football and keep the offense balanced, this Tennessee team is prone to making mistakes. I don’t see them breaking their conference losing streak. Tigers by 7.3:30 PM ET: #2 Georgia at #13 LSU on CBS - Georgia begins the toughest part of their schedule against an LSU team fired up from their loss to the GatorsWe picked the LSU Tigers to struggle last week to beat an opportunistic Gators defense and that’s exactly what transpired with Joe Burrow’s costly interceptions. This game is still a big one for the Bulldogs, who have looked every bit a lock for the National Championship game. For the Bulldogs to get there, here’s comes the part of their schedule that will test them:What to expect: It’s going to be an ugly game for the better part of three quarters but the Dawgs will get the win by two touchdowns late.3:30 PM ET: #7 Washington at #17 Oregon on ESPN2 - Big PAC-12 matchup between the Huskies and a Ducks offense led by draft darling QB Justin HerbertWashington will have a difficult task stopping the ddraft campaign being built by Justin Herbert, the Ducks’ QB. This Oregon football team has a history of running all over Washington in recent memory. Though the Huskies are much better, they will have to limit what Herbert can do to them through the air:What to expect: The Ducks are for real and this is the upset pick for the week White Michael Irvin Jersey , if you can call it that. It’s a perfect storm where Washington is weaker in areas that Oregon likes to exploit. Ducks win by 10.3:30 PM ET: Baylor at #9 Texas on ESPN - BIG-12 football just got a lot more interesting after huge Red-River win by the LonghornsTEXAS IS BACK! After beating OU, the Longhorns are in the Top-10 but they have to keep pace with #6 West Virginia as they seem to be on a collision course for November. Baylor has been a lot better than a rebuilding program should be though they have two losses. Last week, they got past the Wildcats, a team the Longhorns beat one week earlier. Texas cannot get caught napping now:What to expect: This is going to be sort of a statement win for the Longhorns. A statement that they’re not going to revert to playing down to competition. Longhorns win big and keep momentum rolling.7 PM ET: #6 West Virginia at Iowa State on FS1 - QB Will Grier looks to keep Mountaineers as a BIG-12 Powerhouse beating all opponents by seven or more pointsAnother draft darling, QB Will Grier has his team in position to spoil the Longhorns return to the conversation. He must first engineer a win against an 2-3 Iowa Cyclones team that has found ways to play spoiler. Will they get up for this game after beating the OK State Cowboys or will it be a quick trip for these 5-0 Mountaineers?What to expect: West Virginia is a different animal for the Cyclone, an animal they can’t handle. We’re destined for a BIG-12 showdown in week 9 when West Virginia makes their trip to Austin. You can find the full slate of college football games here.