Not much has gotten in the way of the Cowboys in 2016.

That is evident when wins ten in a row and has the best record in the NFL. Each game has brought a unique challenge to the Cowboys though, and Thursday’s game against the Vikings is no different. This game is unique however because of where it lies on the schedule. With a game on December 1, the Cowboys will have played four games in just 18 days. This is far from an easy task in the NFL.

The Cowboys face the issue of playing three games in 11 days every year, thanks to their annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage. However, this isn’t the normal, for them to not have a bye prior to playing twice in four days (Sunday, Thursday) nor have an immediate 10-day rest following their Thursday tilt.

Back in 2014 was the closest approximation, more difficult than normal because two of the games were on the road. After a hard fought 31-28 win against the Giants on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys had to fly back to Dallas in the early hours of Monday to prepare to take on the Eagles on Thanksgiving. That quick turnaround led to a 33-10 embarrassment. Sitting at 8-4 and the season quickly getting out of hands, the Cowboys had to forgo their typical “mini-bye” to play the Bears on the road on Thursday Night Football. They rose to the challenge to win 41-28 and started an impressive run that saw them win out during the month of December. With the Cowboys having two of the three games at home in 2016 and all three indoors, the run of three games is certainly easier in 2016.

This quick turnaround is something not new to most players on the current roster but it doesn’t necessarily make it right. For a league that prides itself on player safety, participating in four games that usually occur over a 21-day span contradicts that foundation the league has spent years to build.

Normally after playing three games in 11 days, a team has a 10-day break. Basically gives them three days off before returning to their normal grind of two light work days before ramping up. Not the 2016 Cowboys. After playing a game that had a lot of up-and-down the field drives, they returned right back to a normal schedule. Walk-through and film work on Friday (normally Monday), then just one off-day before getting back in full swing on Sunday. The wear and tear on the players could be major, but you won’t hear any of these Cowboys complaining about it. Not under Jason Garrett.

Built into the difficulty of the short rest is an added component of players with injuries. A player who could return with a full week’s rest could easily miss a short turnaround game.

The 10-day break following the Vikings’ game will be much needed for the Cowboys. With Justin Durant and J.J. Wilcox unlikely to play this week, it will give the them and the entire team one final rest period before the final stretch of the season that includes the 8-3 Giants, the Seahawks-beating Buccaneers, the division-leading Lions and division-rival Eagles. If the Cowboys can manage to win four games in just 18 days, they will once again prove to the rest of the league just how mentally tough they are and how no adversity will get in their way.