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I have a pretty non-negotiable rule when it comes to all aspects of life: The Purple Pants Rule.
The rule relates to life in a really simple way. If you worked somewhere, anywhere, and signed a contract saying that you could not wear purple pants on Wednesdays without getting fired… if you wore purple pants on Wednesday, who’s really at fault?
It would be stupid, yes. It would make absolutely zero sense if someone told you that you couldn’t wear purple pants; however, if you signed something saying that you wouldn’t and did… the blame is yours and yours alone.
The Purple Pants Rule is typically brought out on OchoLive when we discuss players that do something they shouldn’t. If you violate The Purple Pants Rule, well you know the drill.
The Minnesota Vikings, a la the NFL’s “color rush” campaign, will literally be wearing purple pants when the Cowboys visit them on Thursday Night Football. If it isn’t apparent at this point… wearing purple pants is a bad idea.
The Vikings are in for quite the ride, purple pants and all. The NFL’s best team, the Dallas Cowboys, will be in town and ready to rock. It’s going to be a great game that hopefully propels the Cowboys into a great December. Welcome to my 5 Bold Predictions. Let’s roll.
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Ezekiel Elliott Sets A U.S. Bank Stadium Rushing Record
When the Minnesota Vikings made plans for their new stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium, to be opened in 2016 they imagined an elite running back having his way in it every game – Adrian Peterson.
The former NFL MVP was injured in literally the first regular season played at this spaceship that looks more like an actual ship (like a boat… cause they’re the Vikings… get it?!), so there hasn’t necessarily been a fantastic performance put on by a running back inside this building.
The most impressive stat line any running back dropped in this stadium was Arizona’s David Johnson who had 22 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown… that’s like an appetizer for the always-hungry Zeke.
Zeke is going to eat this and set what will literally be a stadium record of a performance. Bam!
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Cole Beasley Hits The Sauce Twice For Two Touchdowns
The Cowboys are playing a game literally seven days after Thanksgiving for a second consecutive contest on a Thursday. Jason Garrett has been keen on keeping things as normal as possible as far as the seven-day routine all week, continually referring to Monday as Thursday, Tuesday as Friday, you get the picture.
This is a scenario that the Cowboys are well-familiar with. Two years ago, also the last time Dallas had a level of success like this year, they traveled to Chicago seven days after playing on Turkey Day. There was some serious sauce present that day against the Bears.
Cole Beasley caught two touchdowns in Chicago, a feat he achieved earlier this season when the Cowboys visited the Packers at Lambeau Field.
There’s something about Cole Beasley in houses the NFC North built. Two touchdowns and some sauce, coming up!
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Dak Prescott Throws A Pass Without A Cleat
The NFL is finally letting players express some personality with the #MyCauseMyCleats campaign that is allowing players to wear custom cleats this week that depict a personal charity/passion of theirs. Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott debuted his on Twitter on Tuesday.
Excited to Rock #MyCauseMyCleats Thursday Night that @adidasfballus Made Me to Support Colon Cancer Prevention #MOM pic.twitter.com/GcuUbRXpgt
— Dak Prescott (@dak) November 29, 2016
If you’re unaware, Dak Prescott lost his Mother a few years ago, and it’s great to see him honoring her with his cleats.
Dak is going to be under some heavy pressure due to the Vikings pass rush. Close your eyes and imagine that one play they break through, try to sack him, a cleat comes off, and Dak finishes the pass anyway!
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Lucky Whitehead Outperforms Cordarrelle Patterson In The Return Game
The Vikings have one of the more explosive kick-returners in the NFL in Cordarrelle Patterson; however, the Dallas Cowboys have Lucky Whitehead.
All season long it’s felt like Lucky has been a play or break away from taking one to the house. This is Thursday Night Football where sometimes weird/different things happen, and a first is going to happen in 2016 when Lucky houses a return.
The superior return man on Thursday night will be wearing #13 and a Star on his hat. I’m feeling lucky about it!
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The Cowboys Exorcise The Curse Of The Color Rush Jerseys
People love to reference the “cursed” navy jerseys that the Cowboys wear (they wore them in victory on Thanksgiving, for what it’s worth), but there really isn’t that much of a peep about their color rush jerseys being an indicator of bad fortune.
Perhaps this is all because the Cowboys have only worn their color rush jerseys once in franchise history – Thanksgiving 2015. If you’ll remember though, that was a pretty painful day in Cowboys lore as Dallas lost emphatically and it was the last time we have (will ever?) seen Tony Romo take a regular season snap.
Down the color rush jersey curse! Down with it, I say! These Cowboys are different. There’s nothing – no jersey, no team, no stat – that can disrupt what they’ve got going on. Huzzah.
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Bonus Bold Prediction #1
Remember, if you want YOUR Bold Prediction featured here, tweet it at me! It’s that simple! Here are this week’s contributions, thanks to all those who shared!
https://twitter.com/Martini_KS/status/803624535874564096
We’re big fans of “Late Night Ice Cream” around these parts.
Byron Jones has been so incredibly good for the Cowboys since being drafted in the first round of the 2015 Draft. He deserves an interception. Give it to us, football! Please!
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Bonus Bold Prediction #2
#BoldPrediction Dallas clinches 1 seed after Week 14 😱
-DAL beats MIN & NYG
-SEA lose @ GB
-DET lose @ NO
-ATL lose vs KC— TJ Crichton (@tjcrichton) November 29, 2016
This is a bit of a look-ahead type of Bold Prediction. The Cowboys can clinch a playoff spot this week, but they need things beyond their control in order for it to happen. We have all the playoff-clinching scenarios for you available, let’s hope this happens!
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Bonus Bold Prediction #3
@BobbyBeltTX @rjochoa Bold prediction SB51 Dez and Zeke on kick return. Zeke flips it back to Dez. There's the nail in the coffin.
— buzz phelps (@PhelpsBuzz) November 29, 2016
Is Buzz here saying that this is happening in the Super Bowl?! If so, I love it. Even if not, I love it. I doubt we ever see Zeke and/or Dez on kick returns, but this would be awesome if it ever did happen.
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Bonus Bold Prediction #4
We were so off last week that we'll try again with @rjochoa's bold predictions! #DALvsMIN on Thursday – give us FOUR Zeke Elliott TDs! #EAT
— Upon Further Review (@UFRWMSC) November 30, 2016
Zeke is always hungry. We know that. A “four course meal” sounds like something he’d enjoy.
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Bonus Bold Prediction #5
#boldprediction @rjochoa Byron gets a pick, tank gets 2 sacks. Dak over 300, Zeke over 120. 450 yards total offense
27-10 cowboys— Gage Eason (@gageeason131) November 30, 2016
Another bold prediction involving a Byron interception! Goodness, this needs to happen.
I think it’s very possible that DeMarcus Lawrence hits the double sack mark… Minnesota’s offensive line is hardly anything impressive. Dak Prescott is making it a habit of having big statistical days, but 300 yards seems like a lot against the good Vikings defense. Zeke over 120 is easy cookies for him, huzzah.
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Bonus Bold Prediction #6
hope not too late for my bold prediction: Cowboys have 400 yards plus! And a Sam Bradford pick by Byron jones
— Chase Aguiar (@chaseaguiar) November 30, 2016
Prior to the game against the Redskins the Cowboys had ripped off eight consecutive games with over 400 total offensive yards… only the 2007 Patriots and 2013 Broncos had done the same. While ultimately the Cowboys will get back to this level of offensive production, it seems like a bit of a tough sell against the stout Vikings.
A third Byron interception bold prediction? This is destiny.
[signoff author=”rjochoa” source=”rjoshow”]
What are YOUR Bold Predictions for this Thursday’s Cowboys/Vikings game? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ.Ochoa@SlantSports.com, or Tweet to me at @RJOchoa!
EVERYBODYS PERDICTIONS COMES TRUE. YEAH MAN YOU KNOW THIS. GO COWBOYS.