MetLife Stadium—–If the New York Giants hope to salvage their season, reviving their running game is essential. A strong ground attack would not only stabilize their offense but also unlock their passing game, allowing quarterback Daniel Jones to fully go through his progression.
Following a hard-fought win against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys locker room was marked by relief rather than exuberance. The scoreboard told the tale: Cowboys 20, Giants 15.
Coach Brian Daboll faces a pressing challenge: he must find a way to rejuvenate a lackluster rushing attack that has struggled mightily. With the ground game in disarray, the Giants have become one-dimensional, making it easier for defenses to focus on shutting down their passing options.
Re-establishing a formidable running game will be key to helping the Giants find their offensive rhythm. A productive run game can create opportunities for play-action passes and open up the field for receivers like Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson.
Daboll must dig deep and explore new strategies to jumpstart this critical aspect of their offense. Without improvement on the ground, the Giants risk falling further behind in a competitive season. Finding a way to balance their offense will be crucial for any hope of turning things around.
With this victory, the Cowboys (2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak, momentarily silencing critics of the team and head coach Mike McCarthy. Once again, Dallas showcased a potent offense and a resilient defense.
Dak Prescott was instrumental, throwing two touchdown passes, including one to CeeDee Lamb, as the Cowboys extended their dominance over the Giants to seven consecutive wins and 14 out of their last 15 meetings.
“We needed to shift the narrative,” Prescott said, who completed 22 of 27 passes for 221 yards. “Now at 2-2, we can take a breather to regroup mentally and physically.”
Prescott opened the scoring with a 15-yard screen pass to running back Rico Dowdle, then connected with Lamb for a thrilling 55-yard touchdown that ended with a taunting penalty against the receiver.
“This was the only one-on-one opportunity I had all game, and we made it count,” Lamb noted, finishing with seven catches for 98 yards, still in search of his first 100-yard game this season.
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey added field goals of 60 and 40 yards, a much-needed boost after recent setbacks against New Orleans and Baltimore. However, concern loomed over an apparent leg injury to star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who was carted off during the fourth quarter and is set for X-rays.
For the Giants (1-3), Greg Joseph was busy, nailing field goals from 52, 41, 38, 22, and 42 yards. Despite controlling the clock for over 35 minutes, they were unable to find the end zone at home for the second straight game, having also struggled in a prior loss to Minnesota.
New York’s inability to establish a running game against a previously vulnerable Dallas defense was a major factor. The Cowboys, who had been giving up an average of 185.7 rushing yards per game, limited the Giants to just 26 yards on 24 attempts.
“Improving the run game starts with me,” said Giants coach Brian Daboll. “We tried various strategies, but nothing seemed to work.”
Daniel Jones kept the Giants competitive, completing 29 of 40 passes for 281 yards, with rookie standout Malik Nabers catching 12 passes for 115 yards, and Wan’Dale Robinson snagging 11 for 71 yards. Yet, the end zone remained elusive.
“We’re frustrated with the loss,” Jones said. “We didn’t do enough to win, but we’re not discouraged. We still believe in our potential.”
Late in the game, Nabers exited with a concussion, and Jones’ interception on the Giants’ final drive came after Aubrey missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, giving New York a last glimmer of hope.
Despite the loss, the Giants can take solace in their competitiveness against a fierce rival, having been outscored 89-17 in last year’s matchups.
For the Cowboys, the victory was crucial.
“It feels good to shake off two losses and start fresh this week,” Lamb said. “We needed this win, especially in a division game. It sets us back on track.”
Up Next:
Cowboys: At Pittsburgh for a Sunday night game on Oct. 6, the second of their five scheduled prime-time appearances.
Giants: At Seattle on Oct. 6.
