Thanksgiving advance: Bill Belichick, Tom Brady discuss Giants-Cowboys

John Madden used to attempt to convince curious eyes that his favorite Thanksgiving dish was an actual bird with six legs.

And when the Giants (2-9) and Cowboys (4-7) meet in the middle of the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration at AT&T Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX), Tom Brady will try to convince the FOX audience to skip a holiday nap.

“It’s John Madden Day on Thanksgiving in Dallas,” Brady said Monday on the Let’s Go podcast with Bill Belichick and Jim Gray. “We’ve got the Giants-Cowboys, probably not the game anyone anticipated going into this week. But I’ve been studying my ass off this morning trying to figure out some good storylines for this game. It’s a little tough to comb through some of these clips.”

Those clips have included recent storylines that Belichick might be a candidate to become either team’s head coach next season. And while the Giants are contemplating their future and the Cowboys are clinging to dwindling hopes after a thrilling win at Washington, Belichick said the real football begins at Thanksgiving.

“If you’re in the race, it’s all about how you play from this point forward,” said Belichick, who went 69-20 (.775) in regular-season games Week 13 and later with Brady starting at quarterback. “Teams like Philadelphia last year, Dallas in the playoffs, those teams had great years last year and really didn’t have much to show for it. The Giants won two Super Bowls and they played really good at the end of the year and barely got in the playoffs.”

Indeed, in 2011 when New York beat Belichick and Brady in the Super Bowl, the Giants had to win three of their last four and beat Dallas in the season finale to barely clinch the NFC East. After Brady left New England, he led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title in 2020 by going 4-1 after Thanksgiving to sneak into the playoffs as an NFC wild-card team.

“September and October games are relevant; I’m not saying that,” Belichick added. “And they’re important for positioning. But in terms of what really matters in your season is what happens from here on out. It’s when you want to play your best football, get healthy and be ready to play the best teams you’re going to face. And if you are, then you’ll be alright. And if not, then somebody else will keep playing.”

One way to keep playing is to win close games. It’s a safe bet that the majority of meaningful games down the stretch will be tight late. Last week, eight games were within one possession in the fourth quarter and six were decided by eight-or-fewer points. Three teams – Cleveland, Kansas City and Minnesota – recorded game-winning scores in the final minute of the fourth quarter or in overtime. Plus, teams have decided 82 games by six-or-fewer points in 2024, the most through Week 12 in NFL annals.

For more information on the Giants and Cowboys, visit the N.Y. Giants and Dallas team pages at ProFootballPost.com.