By now, Dallas Cowboys fans are used to seeing that tough Thanksgiving stretch.
Three games in twelve days has become standard over recent years, with the NFL always tacking on an extra Thursday night game for America's Team following their holiday special.
So it was no surprise to see it again when the NFL released their 2020 schedule on Thursday night. Sunday afternoon, Thanksgiving day, and Thursday night football all in a row.
This year, however, that stretch looks even more daunting.
Dallas will open that stretch with a late afternoon game at Minnesota, one of many deep and talented NFC teams. The Cowboys played the Vikings at home in 2019, losing to them in one of the more entertaining games of the season, 28-24.
Minnesota traded away wide receiver Stefon Diggs, but they added a lot of bodies through the draft, including LSU wide out Justin Jefferson. They figure to be a tough team once again in 2020, and playing them on the road will be no easy task for the Cowboys.
Then, of course, comes Thanksgiving. The NFL scheduled a divisional matchup with the Washington Redskins for this year's Turkey day, and while the Redskins are clearly in rebuilding mode, inter-NFC East games are always hard fought.
Washington added Ohio State's Chase Young to their already talented defensive line, and depending on the progress of Dwayne Haskins they could be in the running to compete for a division title in a couple years.
Still, this needs to be a win if the Cowboys expect to earn a home playoff game.
The final game of this stretch? None other than a trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Last year's number one seed in the AFC, led by the dynamic Lamar Jackson on offense and an always stingy defensive unit.
On the road, again. On Thursday night.
That means the Cowboys will play three games in three different states over the course of 12 days. And not a single one of those opponents are a layup.
This right here could be the stretch that makes or breaks the 2020 Dallas Cowboys.
