Skins, Cowboys Top Off Thanksgiving

DALLAS (Reuter) -- The Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys, one of the NFL's biggest rivalries, square off Thanksgiving Day in a meaningful game for the first time in a long time.

The Cowboys (7-5) enter the matchup one game behind first-place Washington (8-4) in the NFC East. The teams will meet again in the final week of the season at Washington. Philadelphia (7-5) also trails the Redskins by one game.

The Redskins swept the Cowboys last year, winning at Washington, 27-23, and at Dallas, 24-17. Norv Turner, a former offensive coordinator for the Cowboys, is in his third season as Washington head coach.

The Redskins are coming off a 19-16 home overtime loss to San Francisco, dropping them a game behind Green Bay and the 49ers for the best record in the NFC.

Dallas was stunned by the New York Giants, 20-6, last Sunday. Cowboys coach Barry Switzer benched Emmitt Smith in the fourth quarter after he gained just 18 yards on 11 carries.

Dallas is 19-8-1 on Thanksgiving, winning five of its last six games. The Cowboys are 4-0 versus Washington on Thanksgiving, winning in 1968, 1974, 1978 and 1990.

The Detroit Lions (5-7) head into their traditional Thanksgiving Day game in a virtual must-win position to remain alive in the wild-card race.

The Lions will host the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4), who are playing their second Thanksgiving Day game in as many years. The Chiefs lost at Dallas, 24-12, last year.

Kansas City is all but out of the running for the AFC West title following a 28-14 defeat at home to San Diego last Sunday. The Chiefs trail first-place Denver by three games in the West.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer has not yet announced who will start at quarterback Thursday. Regular starter Steve Bono was benched late in the third quarter of last Sunday's loss and replaced by backup Rich Gannon, who was more effective.

Bono completed just 10-of-23 passes for 106 yards with two interceptions before being yanked. Gannon was 22-of-31 for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

This time around, a late charge by Detroit may not be enough to save coach Wayne Fontes' job. The Lions lost for the fifth time in six games Sunday, falling at Chicago, 31-14.

Barry Sanders had 107 yards and became the first running back in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in eight straight seasons.

Detroit opens a three-game homestand with Thursday's game. The Lions also host Minnesota and Green Bay before closing their season at San Francisco.

Kansas City leads the all-time series, 4-3, and is playing the Lions for the fourth time on Thanksgiving Day. The Chiefs posted a 43-24 victory in the last game between the teams in 1990.

Detroit is 28-26-2 on Thanksgiving, winning its last two games. The Lions defeated Kansas City in the 1987 Thanksgiving contest, 27-20.