Throughout the 2007 season, the Cowboys have not fallen into the trap of the infamous “trap game” where they enter a contest with a sub-par opponent the week before a critical battle that has implications on their season or playoff standing. This is a team that just plowed through three straight games against their division foes with a fair amount of ease, face the NY Jets on Thanksgiving Day, and then welcome the Packers at Texas Stadium next Thursday. This game just might determine home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if these two squads continue their commanding ways.

You couldn’t set up a more perfect trap game than today’s game against the sputtering Jets, but Dallas has been disciplined all year long as they literally have approached this season one game at a time. There has been no signs of neurosis or trepidation even in the Patriots rout. I fully expect the Cowboys to enter this game fully prepared and focused as they look to become the first team in Dallas Cowboys history to start a season 10-1.

This is the 40th time that Dallas will play on Thanksgiving Day, and here are some of my personal favorites (not in any particular order):

1. 1980 - Dallas 51  Seattle 7 - Dorsett scored twice, Danny White threw for two TD’s, and Doomsday inflicted pain. I was there in the end zone seats with family and friends. My Cowboys scored 51 points! I was so hoarse the next day.
2. 2006 - Dallas 38  Tampa 10 - This was the first game that really got my attention on how good Tony Romo was going to be, and he hasn’t disappointed yet. He tied the franchise record by throwing 5 TD passes in that game.
3. 1993 - Miami 16  Dallas 14 - I always thought that Leon Lett was extremely talented but he never seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. He proved that with his bone-head play on his attempted recovery of a blocked field goal in the ice and sleet. Miami recovered and drove the field to win. But, Dallas went on to win their second straight Super Bowl that year.
4. 1994 - Dallas 42  Green Bay 31 - A young up-and-coming QB named Brett Favre invaded Texas Stadium while the Cowboys had to resort to starting their 3rd-string QB, a red-headed unknown named Jason Garrett. The “Red Baron” threw 2 TD’s and 311 yards and led a Cowboys blitzkrieg which scored 36 second-half points for the win. The Baron faces The Legend next Thursday once again.
5. 1974 - Dallas 24  Washington 23 - The legendary Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game with a concussion which put second-stringer Clint Longley in the game behind by 13 points in the second half. Longley hit Drew Pearson with a 50-yard bomb in the final minute to win it over the hated Skins. Longley was known to be a cocky S.O.B. and had his clock cleaned by Roger Staubach in training camp. Has there been a greater Cowboy?

Happy Thanksgiving, Football Fans!!