Can Ezekial Elliott, Amari Cooper feast on Thanksgiving?

Here are three matchups to follow during Thursday's Cowboys game vs. Washington.

Washington's front seven vs. Ezekiel Elliott Washington's run defense and Dallas' running game are trending in opposite directions. The Redskins have allowed 396 rushing yards over their last three games, a month after holding Dallas to 73 yards on 22 carries.

The Cowboys have suddenly found their running game the last two weeks. Against Washington, Ezekiel Elliott finished with 15 carries for 33 yards, the second-lowest rushing total of his career. In back-to-back wins, Elliott has run for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

“No matter who you put in there, offensive line, wide receivers, all that stuff, the focal point is always going to be Zeke, No. 21,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said during a Tuesday conference call. “So we got to make sure we do a good job corralling him somehow.” Washington's defensive backs vs. Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper was still with the Raiders the last time Dallas played Washington. At that time, Redskins safety Ha Ha Clinton-dix was still in Green Bay.

The two last played against each other during Cooper's rookie season. Cooper caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-20 Packers win at Oakland.

In three games with Dallas, Cooper has caught 14 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown.

“He's an elite receiver,” Clinton-dix told Washington reporters. “He has a chance to be great. He's very fast. He's explosive. He's a guy we have to stop and take the ball away from.” Which team is better prepared during

a short week? The Cowboys and Redskins have had at least five days between every game this year. They'll both be playing on only three days of rest on Thursday. What are the challenges of preparing on

a short week? “Fortunately, it's the Cowboys, so I don't think we ever have to get ready,” Gruden said. “We could play them in a sandlot and I think our Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott breaks away from Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun and strong safety Damontae Kazee on a touchdown run at Mercedes-benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday.

guys would be ready to play in front of two people. This is going to be a great environment, it's Thanksgiving. Our guys will be ready. We know we're in first place by a game and they're right behind us. We know the importance of this game for both teams.

“It's the Cowboys. The records are really insignificant. Anytime you're talking about a Redskins-cowboys matchup it's going to be a great game with a lot of emotion.” game like he’s the starter. If his time does come, he doesn’t blink.”

The Bears also announced that outside linebacker Aaron Lynch and tight end Adam Shaheen will not play Thursday. They suffered concussions against the Vikings.

Those are the only three players on their injury report for the week.