The Associated Press

IRVING, Texas - As a lifelong Cowboys fan who happens to be a rookie cornerback for the Broncos, Darrent Williams has been looking forward to the Thanksgiving game between Dallas and Denver for months.

Now, everyone else who follows the league also has reason to be excited about it.

Thursday's game is far more than a holiday afternoon showcase for two proud franchises. It's one of the best matchups of the weekend and the only one featuring an elite AFC team against a top NFC club.

‘‘It doesn't get much better than this right now,'' Cowboys defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said. ‘‘Both teams have a short week, both are playing pretty solid football - what more can you ask for?''

The Broncos (8-2) have won three straight and need to keep piling up the victories to have a chance of snatching home-field advantage in the playoffs from the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

The Cowboys (7-3) also are on a three-game winning streak and need to keep rolling heading into a tough December schedule that starts with a road game against the New York Giants, the team they're tied with for first place in the NFC East.

While it would be a stretch to call this a Super Bowl preview, each team is calling the other the best they've played all season.

‘‘They are going to make us work for everything we get,'' Denver quarterback Jake Plummer said. ‘‘It's going to be a big challenge for us.''

Both coaches began preparing for this game during their bye week, which they shared the first week of this month.

Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe hit the film room Sunday night, hours after a victory over Detroit. He spent about two hours studying the Broncos, then went home. Not long after, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells arrived at his office.

Parcells said he clocked in at 2:50 a.m. Monday to dig into the planning. Players arrived at a more normal hour, then he kept them at team headquarters until 6:30 p.m.

‘‘They represent a represent a big threat to us,'' Parcells said. ‘‘They're playing well. They're powerful.''

There are some striking similarities between the clubs.

Both have mastered the concept of playing keep-away, combining strong defenses with offenses that know how to burn the clock. Dallas leads the NFL in time of possession, averaging 33 minutes, 16 seconds, while Denver trails by a mere 6 seconds.

It's no coincidence that the Cowboys give the ball to their running backs more than any team in the league. The Broncos again are a close second.

Denver has far more to show for it, thanks to the usual success of their small, quick line and the latest beneficiaries, the tandem of Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell. The Cowboys are trying to emulate the 1-2 punch idea with their recent shift to sharing the load between Julius Jones, who had been hurt, and Marion Barber III.

In Plummer and Bledsoe, both teams have quarterbacks playing better than many thought they could at this stage in their careers. Bledsoe is tied for the top passer rating in the NFC. Plummer is fifth in the AFC, but only a few percentage points behind Bledsoe.

Want to talk defense? Dallas' unit has allowed seven touchdowns the last seven games. Denver is coming off its first shutout in seven years.

Then there are the coaches, each with two Super Bowl championships - Parcells and Mike Shanahan of the Broncos.

Yes, schedule-makers did a favor for football fans around the country who will be tuning in before, during or after their big meal.

‘‘I love it, I love it - going into a short week in a game like this where everything is on the table,'' said Denver defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, who played for Dallas from 1999-2003. ‘‘It doesn't take much to get you amped up, getting ready to play this game. … I think I speak for all the players when I say we're excited for the opportunity.''