Raiders vs. Cowboys: Players Who Will Dictate Outcome of Thanksgiving Clash

Smack dab in the middle of the holiday festivities on Thursday is the second of three NFL contests, as the Oakland Raiders make the trip to AT&T Stadium for a date with the Dallas Cowboys.

Oakland sits at 4-7 and in the cellar of the AFC West, but has new life thanks to rookie quarterback Matt McGloin. The matchup is much more important to 6-5 Dallas, as Tony Romo and the Cowboys are tied for the lead in the NFC East.

Despite what appears to be a lopsided Thanksgiving matchup, this one has the makings of a quality bout. Here are a few players fans should focus on, as their play will determine which team wins.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

He's back.

After missing three games due to injury, Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times reports that Raiders feature back Darren McFadden will return in time for the showdown with the Cowboys:

As Corkran points out, the Raiders intend to use a committee approach with McFadden and Rashad Jennings, who leads the NFL with 553 total yards from scrimmage over the past four weeks.

That's a good thing.

McFadden needs to ease his way back into things. There's no better opponent to do that against than Dallas, a team that ranks in the bottom three against both the run and pass.

Fans know what McFadden is capable of on any play from scrimmage. His effectiveness will not only make things easier for Jennings, it will open things up for McGloin through the air.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

We all know what Dallas quarterback Tony Romo is capable of through the air. What we don't know is if he'll have any help come Thursday afternoon.

DeMarco Murray is the man in the spotlight here. He averages a stellar 5.1 yards per carry this year, but for one reason or another, the coaching staff has mostly neglected him. He's had only 125 totes on the season. 

The Cowboys will need Murray to produce large chunks of yardage at a time against the Raiders. Oakland ranks in the top 10 in rushing defense, allowing an average of 99.1 yards on the ground per game, and has allowed just one back to surpass the 100-yard mark this season.

Murray himself has failed to accomplish that feat this season outside of a 175-yard outburst against St. Louis in Week 3. Coincidentally enough, he also received a season-high 26 carries.

The numbers speak for themselves. Should he be given a shot at a stout run defense. Murray can and will have an impact.

Matt McGloin, QB, Oakland Raiders

Corkran reports that McGloin has done more than enough to keep the starting job in Oakland:

Despite the fact that Terrelle Pryor is healthy once more, these numbers more than justify Dennis Allen's decision:

	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	TD	INT
vs. PHI	7	15	87	46.7	0	0
@ HOU	18	32	197	56.3	3	0
vs. TEN	19	32	260	59.4	1	1

If the oft-anemic offense is going to score enough to win on Thursday, McGloin must produce against a Dallas defense focused on stopping the run.

It helps that the Cowboys are simply putrid in all facets of a thing called defense. Shocking, really. Only one team gives up more yardage through the air and no team surrenders more yardage overall.

The pressure is on under a national spotlight, and McGloin must deliver on the biggest stage of his career thus far.

Follow @Chris_Roling