An inside take a look at Thursday’s Giants-Cowboys matchup at AT&T Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb vs. Giants CB Deonte Banks
Right here is one other casualty that occurs when a workforce loses its beginning quarterback — the manufacturing of the highest huge receiver goes down. Lamb has 77 receptions for 841 yards and 4 touchdowns — far beneath his career-best 2023 output — 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 TDs. He had Banks all rotated again in Week 4 on a 55-yard run-and-catch scoring play that introduced into query Banks’ effort pursuing Lamb. Banks was nothing particular final week, when he was matched up with the Bucs’ Mike Evans. The truth is, Banks hardly ever, if ever, exhibits something particular and he definitely doesn’t carry out just like the first-round decide he’s.
Paul’s decide
Sure, we all know that the Cowboys have misplaced their previous six video games at AT&T Stadium and trailed by 20 or extra factors in all six video games — an ignominious NFL file. Are the Giants able to including to that home-cooking distress? They present no indicators they’re gearing up for a lot of something. Memo to Drew Lock: Goal Malik Nabers early — and infrequently.
Cowboys 26, Giants 10
4 Downs
Tanks for nothing: Because the Cowboys misplaced 5 consecutive video games, a section of their fan base, unaccustomed to dropping out of playoff competition earlier than Thanksgiving, took solace in what awaited the franchise: A uncommon excessive decide within the upcoming draft.
Then the Cowboys snapped that dropping streak with a wild 34-26 victory over the Commanders and, at 4-7, they’re definitely not within the race within the NFC, however they don’t seem to be fully out of it both. “I don’t plan on tanking,’’ go rusher Micah Parsons mentioned. “If the higher-ups are in search of a draft decide, I hope that’s ruined, as a result of we obtained lots of soccer left to play. So long as I’m part of this workforce, we’re at all times going to combat.’’
Not subsequent man up: As quickly as phrase got here down that the Giants agreed to launch Daniel Jones, it was a bit alarmist and reactionary to counsel the Cowboys would signal him and he would play and beat the Giants on Thanksgiving. Huh? Why would anybody assume the Cowboys would need something to do with Jones?
He’s 1-8 in his profession towards the Cowboys, with 4 landing passes and 6 interceptions. Dallas gamers mocked him after a few of these video games.
Cooper Rush struggled in his first two begins changing injured Dak Prescott, however Rush was stable in final week’s victory in Washington. He’s 6-3 as a fill-in starter in his NFL profession — together with a 23-16 victory over the Giants in Week 3 of the 2022 season.
Any D in Huge D? At the least Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen tried one thing completely different final week. He put three inside linebackers — starters Bobby Okereke (60 snaps) and Micah McFadden (52 snaps) — on the market, as common, and in addition had rookie Darius Muasau (18 snaps) on the sphere at occasions with Okereke and McFadden, trying so as to add some bulk and tackling to cease the run.
The outcomes weren’t an immediate hit, because the Giants allowed 156 dashing yards. They contained Rachaad White however had been unable to put a glove on Bucky Irving.
‘Tis the season: It is job-security time around the NFL — as in who has it and who does not. Put Daboll on the “does not’’ know for sure if he shall be again in 2025 checklist, together with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. In every of the earlier three seasons, McCarthy gained 12 video games however didn’t discover any playoff success.
On a current radio look on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned, “I don’t assume it’s loopy in any respect’’ that McCarthy may get a contract extension. It positive appears as if each Daboll and McCarthy have to make one thing occur in these final six weeks.
