Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys: 5 Bold Predictions for Week 12

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles after intercepting the ball from quarterback Carson Wentz #11 (not pictured) in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Leighton Vander Esch will really make his name known

This will be the game where even the casual NFL fan will say, “Wait, who is that guy on the Dallas Cowboys?” “That guy” they will be commenting on will be linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and he will be the one taking all the tackles and disrupting plays on Thanksgiving.

As many will be starting Thanksgiving dinner around 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, Vander Esch will be making a name for himself in place of Sean Lee as Lee is injured and ruled out once again. Vander Esch isn’t Lee just quite yet, but if he keeps on building up games like he has of late, the first-round pick Vander Esch will be well on his way to being the “next Lee.”

Vander Esch this past Sunday totaled eight tackles against the Atlanta Falcons, and the week before against the Philadelphia Eagles the rookie linebacker totaled 13 tackles and a tackle for a loss. Four times this season, Vander Esch has double-digit tackles, and for the season he’s totaled 84 tackles and two interceptions.

For the Thanksgiving game, look for Vander Esch to have another 10-tackle game with two tackles for a loss and a couple pass breakups. If this prediction occurs, the rookie will more than continue to make a name for himself, just this time the casual NFL fan will know who he is, too.

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