The (5–5–1) Dallas Cowboys are on a two-game winning streak after defeating the (8–3) Philadelphia Eagles. This Thanksgiving Thursday, they will face the (6–5) Kansas City Chiefs, who are coming off an overtime win against the (8–3) Indianapolis Colts. As we head into this matchup, three battles on the field stand out as must-watch showdowns.

George Pickens vs Jaylen Watson

The Pickens trade has been a major success this year; he’s only 87 receiving yards away from surpassing his career high of 1,140 yards from his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers — and it’s only Week 13. His elite catch radius, body control, dependability and playmaking ability have propelled him to 2nd in the league in receiving yards with 1,054 and 3rd in receiving touchdowns with eight.

On the Chiefs’ side, he’ll be matched up against the physical corner Jaylen Watson, who’s having a strong season of his own and is just four tackles away from setting a new career high. Last week, Watson helped hold Colts WR “Mr. Dependable” himself, Michael Pittman Jr., to just 5 catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded three tackles, an assisted tackle and a pass deflection.

Key factor for Pickens: If he can attack Watson vertically — using his big body, high-point catch radius and strong back-shoulder game, it could be a long day for Watson.

Tyler Booker vs Chris Jones

The rookie vs the vet: Booker is up for another challenge after battling Eagles DT Jalen Carter in the trenches last week — a matchup in which he held Carter without a sack. This Thursday, he’ll face All-Pro DT Chris Jones, presenting an even tougher test. Booker will be facing one of the best defensive tackles in the league.

Key factor for Booker: If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Booker has the size at 6'5", 320 pounds, along with the mauling strength, leverage and run-game drive you want in a young lineman. However, he’ll be facing one of the league’s elite technicians in Jones, whose hand usage, explosive first step and ability to slip through gaps make him a constant problem.

For Booker, the mission is simple but difficult: hold his ground, contain Jones and minimise his impact as much as possible to keep Dak Prescott’s pocket clean.

DaRon Bland vs Rashee Rice

Even after serving six suspensions, Rashee Rice is still the third-leading receiver for the Chiefs and one of Patrick Mahomes’ top chain-moving targets, with 34 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll be facing off against a versatile corner in DaRon Bland, who can line up both in the nickel and on the boundary, meaning Rice will see him from multiple alignments.

Bland’s ability to jump routes, create turnovers and rack up pass deflections means Rice must be crisp and precise in his route running whenever he’s matched up against him.

Key factors for Bland: This matchup will be a battle on slants and crossers, where timing is crucial. Bland must stay tight in coverage and pick the right moment to jump a route to make a play. If he mistimes it, Rice, known as a YAC machine, can turn short catches into big gains. However, Bland has shown in the past that he can jump routes and make game-changing interceptions when the opportunity arises.