Seahawks vs. Cowboys preview

Key questions

1How have the Seahawks fared on Thanksgiving? They are 1-1 on Turkey Day, defeating Dallas 31-14 on Nov. 27, 1986, and losing to the Cowboys 51-7 on Nov. 27, 1980.

2Why have Seahawks-Cowboys games been so entertaining in recent years? They've featured a lot of exciting plays and even some postgame drama. We take you back to 2002, when the Seahawks lost Trent Dilfer to a torn Achilles during the game at Texas Stadium and Matt Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to a 17-14 win. Seattle WR Darrell Jackson went into a seizure in the locker room after the game, the result of a helmet-to-helmet blow in the fourth quarter from Cowboys S Darren Woodson that knocked Jackson unconscious for a few moments. Jackson was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance but was released the following day. Dallas RB Emmitt Smith set the all-time NFL rushing record in that game. On Dec. 6, 2004, the Seahawks and Cowboys, both struggling at the time, lit up the Qwest Field scoreboard on "Monday Night Football" as Dallas rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final minutes to win 43-39. Then there was a 13-10 Seahawks win on Oct. 23, 2005, when the Seahawks scored 10 points in the final 1:31, the big play being Jordan Babineaux's interception to set up the winning field goal. And finally, the NFC wild-card game on Jan. 6, 2007, when the Cowboys lined up for the go-ahead field goal late in the game, and quarterback/holder Tony Romo bobbled the snap, tried to run for a first down and was tripped up by Babineaux to save the day in a 21-20 thriller.

3Are the Cowboys successful on Thanksgiving? For the most part. They are 25-14-1 on the holiday and have outscored opponents 990-762. Dallas has not fared well on games played on Nov. 27, losing the last three, one to Seattle in 1986. But they have had a six-game winning streak, 18 double-digit wins and average 28.2 points on Thanksgiving.

Notable

Seahawks: Seattle is 0-3 against the NFC East this season with losses to the New York Giants, Philadelphia and Washington. But the Seahawks are 8-3 against that division in the past 11 games, including 3-0 in the playoffs. ... Injuries have taken a toll on the Seahawks, with 21 players missing a total of 118 games through the first 12 weeks. ... P Jon Ryan has steadily improved, as he is now up to seventh in the NFL in with an average of 45.9 yards. ... Josh Wilson has 45 kickoff returns, the most in the NFL.

Cowboys: Dallas has a worse turnover ratio than Seattle, minus-6 to minus-4. ... The Cowboys have been penalized 84 times for 655 yards, 36 more times than the Seahawks. ... Dallas leads the regular-season series 6-4. ... WR Terrell Owens and QB Tony Romo have linked up for 31 touchdowns since 2006, the most TD passes in the league for any QB-WR tandem during that time. ... The Cowboys are third in the league in converting third downs, 47.6 percent.

Injury report

Seahawks: G Mike Wahle (shoulder) is out. S C.J. Wallace (hamstring) is doubtful. C Chris Spencer (back) and DT Red Bryant are questionable.WR Koren Robinson (knee) is probable.

Cowboys: WR Miles Austin (knee), CB Mike Jenkins (hamstring), RB Felix Jones (toe) and G Kyle Kosier (foot) are out. Jones, a rookie first-round pick, was placed on injured reserve. TE Martellus Bennett (ankle), S Patrick Watkins (neck) and LB Justin Rogers (back) are questionable. CB Terence Newman (groin) and WR Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) are probable.

Last gameSeahawks: Seattle lost for the fourth straight time and seventh time in its past eight games, falling 20-17 to Washington Sunday at Qwest Field. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception on the first play of the Seahawks' last possession of the game, sealing the team's fate. The Seahawks led 10-7 at halftime on a field goal and touchdown toss to running back Maurice Morris, who rushed for 103 yards as the starter. But Seattle fell behind 17-10 after some costly third-quarter mistakes. The Seahawks dropped to 2-9 and lost their fourth straight at home.

Cowboys: The Cowboys haven't been as good as advertised, but they have won the past two games and three of four, including Sunday's 35-22 victory over San Francisco. Dallas trailed 6-0 before scoring 29 unanswered points. Terrell Owens had seven catches for 213 yards, and the Cowboys held the 49ers to only 26 rushing yards. Tony Romo was 23 of 39 for 341 yards in his second game playing with a splint over a broken pinkie on his passing hand.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com