Jason Witten needs six receptions on Thanksgiving to become just the 11th player in NFL history with 1,000 career receptions.
So 90,000 sets of friendly eyes in attendance for the game at AT&T Stadium will be on the hometown favorite Witten.
But all eyes on the Dallas defense better be on the other starting tight end in the game.
The Carolina Panthers bring an NFC-best 10-0 record to Arlington and tight end Greg Olsen has been a major contributor in that success. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2014 after enjoying a career season, catching 84 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns to lead the NFC South champions in receiving. He was one of only two tight ends with 1,000-yard seasons, joining AFC Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski.
Olsen's profile was elevated even further in August when Kelvin Benjamin suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp, costing the Panthers their best wide receiver. He was coming off a 73-catch, 1,008-yard, nine-touchdown rookie season of his own. Benjamin and Olsen combined for more than half of Cam Newton's completions a year ago.
Without Benjamin, Olsen has become the offensive focus for Newton -- and the focus of NFL defenses as well. And he's delivered. Olsen has caught a team-leading 48 passes for 722 yards and six touchdowns. That's a wide-receiver-like 15 yards per catch average. His six TDs lead all NFC tight ends.
Newton threw 14 passes to Olsen against Houston, 12 against Indianapolis and 11 apiece against New Orleans and Seattle. He had his best career game against the Saints, catching eight passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a seven-catch, 131-yard, touchdown game against the Seahawks. Only Gronkowski and Gary Barnidge over in the AFC have more 100-yard games at the tight end position this season than Olsen.
Olsen, 30, has scored touchdowns in three of Carolina's last four games. He has scored from in close this season -- seven yards against Green Bay and five yards against Washington -- and from afar, 27 yards against Indianapolis and 26 against Seattle.
The Cowboys have had some success using rookie Byron Jones in the coverage of tight ends this fall, holding his own in matchups against Pro Bowlers Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham of the Seahawks. Jones has the size (6-0, 205), speed (4.38 40-yard dash) and athleticism to contest passes to the bigger players, and neither Gronkowski nor Graham found the end zone against the Cowboys.
But a hamstring injury to Morris Claiborne forced defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli to move Jones from safety to cornerback last week against Miami. Jones struggled, getting burned for a 29-yard touchdown by Kenny Stills and also surrendering a 47-yard reception to Jarvis Landry. He also turned an ankle in the game but is expected back for the Panthers.
Marinelli may want to consider sliding Jones back inside for the Panthers. Olsen has more catches than Carolina's two starting wideouts (Ted Ginn and rookie Devin Funchess) combined. The threat in the Carolina passing game is at tight end, not at wide receiver.
Listen to Rick Gosselin at 10:50 a.m. Tuesdays on Sportsradio 1310 AM/96.7 FM The Ticket with Norm Hitzges and Donovan Lewis, and follow @RickGosselinDMN on Twitter.