Cowboys vs. Redskins on Thanksgiving Day

IRVING, Tex. (Reuter) - One of the great Thanksgiving Day football memories was provided in a 1974 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium by a backup quarterback named Clint Longley.

Longley came off the bench for the injured Roger Staubach and threw a pair of second-half touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to a 24-23 win over the Redskins in a Thanksgiving classic. But Dallas ended up missing the playoffs that year, snapping a streak of eight consecutive postseason appearances.

The Cowboys and the Redskins continue their classic rivalry Thursday, in their first Thanksgiving Day contest since 1990.

The defending Super Bowl Champion Cowboys (7-5) enter Thursday's game 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.