Thursday's matchup is a crucial one for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, although the teams have very different reasons motivating them.
For the Cowboys (7-4), "Thursday Night Football" presents an opportunity to remain ahead of the pack in the NFC East. Although they are the only team in the division above .500, the Cowboys hae dropped two straight games and can see the surging Washington Football Team creeping up in the rear-view mirror.
Dallas would prefer to end the mini losing streak and maintain the cushion at the top of the division, and a win against New Orleans would help in that regard.
For the Saints (5-6), a TNF victory is even more urgently needed. The team is in a downward spiral after a strong opening to the season, and a four-game losing skid has pushing the once high-flying Saints down to third place in the NFC South and out of the playoff picture. While reaching the postseason is unlikely at this point, the Saints could still make a late push if victorious against the Cowboys on Thursday.
To that end, it appears as though Taysom Hill will start at quarterback for the Saints after a bout with a foot injury. Hill will be looked upon to inject some life into a New Orleans offence that hasn't been good enough for weeks.
He's played as a receiver, running back and tight end at differing points this season, but the opportunity to be the starting QB is something Hill relishes.
“There's nothing like playing quarterback in this league and so certainly that requires an additional amount of energy and responsibility,” Hill said. “You have a greater ability to affect the outcome of a game.”
Here's more info about the matchup, plus everything to know about how to watch "Thursday Night Football."
Who plays on "Thursday Night Football" this week?
- Matchup: Cowboys vs. Saints
- Location: Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans
The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 17-13-0.
What time is the Cowboys vs. Saints game?
- Date: Thursday, December 2
- Kickoff time: 8:20 p.m. ET
The 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff time is standard for Thursday night games.
How to watch "Thursday Night Football" in Canada: TV, live stream
- TV channel: CTV2, TSN
- Live stream: DAZN
Cowboys vs. Saints — like every NFL game during the 2021 season — is available on DAZN Canada.
DAZN Canada is the only place to watch NFL Game Pass, with access to every regular-season NFL game (including Monday, Thursday, Sunday afternoon via NFL Sunday Ticket, and Sunday night games) and every playoff matchup. Each game is available live and on demand.
DAZN Canada is also where NFL fans can watch RedZone — every touchdown, every game, every Sunday.
The "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cowboys and Saints is also available on CTV2 and TSN.