FRISCO, Texas — Dear 903, stand up. That's the area code of Tyler, Texas and the surrounding area, where both Patrick Mahomes and DeMarvion Overshown hail from — Whitehouse and Arp, respectively — a combined population of about 9,500 people (most of that being in Whitehouse, Mahomes' hometown), and that's apropos when considering how small the world must truly be for the two to square off against each other in the NFL.
On Thanksgiving, it's the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in a matchup that has the potential of being the most-watched game of the entire season, and one that will rival the viewership of some Super Bowls; and East Texas will likely view it as exactly that: a Super Bowl, of sorts.
"East Texas has been talking about this since the schedule popped up, so it's 903," said a smiling Overshown ahead of the contest. "We're going at it. Somebody gotta win, too. ... I know his voice, and he's gonna know mine too because I'm gonna be chasing him.
"... They use him a little bit more scrambling and rushing this season, but I'm gonna be fine. I like my abilities, so it's going to be fun, if that's what they decide to do. We've got a good plan, a good game plan for it. You know, it's more for me."
The two have yet to meet formally, but Overshown says it's "mandatory" that it happens in the backfield on Thanksgiving, with both families and all of their hometown friends tuned in and cheering for both sides.
Even more mindbending is the fact Overshown, who is five years younger than Mahomes, recalls a time when he and the future Hall of Famer were in the same room together, with only God knowing that, ultimately, they'd line up against each other with the entire world tuned in.
"Crazy thing is, I went to Whitehouse [Independent School District] in elementary," said the Cowboys' linebacker as he glanced toward the ceiling to finish drawing the memory from the back of his mind. "The varsity football players would actually come to the elementary school and see the kids, and Pat was actually in high school. It [happened] a couple times."
And though Overshown hasn't met Patrick Mahomes yet, the same can't be said of the younger members of the Mahomes tribe, and for an equally intriguing reason.
"His brother, Jackson, and his cousin Emma, we were all in the same class," Overshown said. "I actually grew up with them. I know the Mahomes [family] real well — real well. I'm pretty sure when I was doing combine interviews, I said it was a dream to play against him, or to play with him. I get to play against him, so that's going to be fire.
"You know, East Texas going in."
The coming clash on Turkey Day will mark the third game back for Overshown following his recovery from a devastating injury that involved a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his knee when it was rolled up on by a 300-lb. lineman late last season. His journey back is remarkable, especially when factoring in how it's not his first time overcoming such adversity at the NFL level.
Having been mostly on a pitch count in the victories over the Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles, averaging roughly 34 snaps per outing, Overshown understands the decision to ramp him up, because that's just plain smart, but also that he feels it's time to eat on Thanksgiving against Mahomes and Co. — the entire meal and not simply portions of it.
"Yes, sir. It's definitely a blessing. It's a blessing," he said of making his return ahead of his previously, and often, stated timetable of Thanksgiving. "... That was always the plan. … I kind of planned on this game being one of the ones I came back for — the environment, the atmosphere of the game. It's a game that you don't want to miss.
"I'm excited to be a part of it. I never take it for granted. It's just the best, and it's just a blessing to be able to play again. I'm thankful for it. It's two [games] in one week.
"It's a quick turnaround for somebody that's still ramping up, but I felt great last game, so it ain't gonna be no limiting me or pulling me back."
Given the well-known ability of Mahomes to not only make plays in the air but also on the ground, Overshown's speed, quickness, explosiveness and athleticism will be a huge key for the Cowboys in trying to contain him and to make him uncomfortable.
Don't plan on Mahomes ever giving up though, but the same is true of Overshown, as he has once again proved in overcoming another gut-wrenching injury. It seems that's simply the East Texas way.
