The Dallas Cowboys come into Week 5 with a 3-1 record and an early-season grip on first place in the NFC East. After an incredibly strong showing against the previously unbeaten Carolina Panthers last week, the Cowboys are looking like they might just be legit. This week’s game is one that a true contender doesn’t trip up on.
The Cowboys welcome an NFC East rival, the New York Giants, to AT&T Stadium to close out a three-game homestand where they look for the clean sweep. The Giants are coming off of a surprising overtime upset against the New Orleans Saints. I’ll admit it, even with that win, I am not sold on the Giants performing some sort of stellar turnaround.
Let’s not waste any more time getting into the fun stuff. Like we do each game, let’s take a look at a few things in this matchup. We will look into the history of this rivalry, a potential key player, and my gut prediction. Let’s get into it!
New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys History
All-Time Record: 69-47-2 in favor of the Cowboys (1-0 playoff record in favor of the Giants)
Most Recent Result: New York 23, Dallas 19 on January 3, 2021
In a rivalry, usually, things are a little closer than this matchup has been for a while, but it is the NFC East and no matter the records, there’s still bad blood. The Cowboys not only have 22 more wins than the Giants but have won 14 of the last 22 dating back to 2010 which include streaks of five and seven straight victories.
Where do we begin with some of the moments in this rivalry? Cowboys fans recall the game in 1993 where Emmitt Smith totaled 229 yards from scrimmage with a separated shoulder to lead the Cowboys to the win and NFC East title. It could be the 2006 season when Cowboys’ former head coach, Bill Parcells, made the decision to give Tony Romo his shot at halftime. Romo led the Cowboys to the playoffs that year, took hold of the starting job, and rest is history from that moment on.
There have also been not as favorable moments for the Cowboys. The Giants came to Texas in 2007 and upset the top-seeded Cowboys in the playoffs on their way to an improbable Super Win against the New England Patriots. Arguably the most painful loss I have ever witnessed in person. The Giants also played spoiler in the first game in AT&T stadium when they took down the Cowboys 33-31.
Let’s not ignore the two elephants in the room, either. First, former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is the Giants offensive coordinator. He knows a lot of guys on this Cowboys team very well. Secondly, the Giants are the team that the Cowboys were playing when Dak Prescott’s ankle injury occurred. It was in Dallas, just like this game will be, last season, nearly a year to the date that this week’s matchup will occur.
Dak has answered every single thing asked of him in his return and this appears to be the final hurdle to complete his road to recovery. I can’t imagine the thoughts racing through his mind. The team you were playing, same stadium, same week of the season. But I think he answers the bell and puts this angle fully to rest.
The Giants come into this game with a shocking win over the Saints last week in overtime. That said, this isn’t the same Saints team we are accustomed to seeing when they had Drew Brees, rather Jameis Winston is manning the quarterback position. Simply put, the Giants are a struggling and overmatched football team. They have a lot of question marks across the board.
New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys Weather Outlook
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Stadium Type: Retractable dome
Predicted Forecast: High of 91, low of 67, very warm with sun and clouds, winds of 12-13mph with gusts up to 17-18mph
You all are going to be in for the time of your lives in this section when we get an outdoor game, let me promise you that. Hang with me, though, it is coming. Although, I think I kind of like the trend of this team playing indoors. Three straight indoor games, three straight wins, maybe we should stay inside?
We are looking at a toasty day down in Arlington come Sunday when the Cowboys take the field in the final game of a three-game homestand. With kickoff at 4:25 pm ET, that sun is going to be baking on the field should the Cowboys keep the roof open. I have a gut feeling they open the roof and open the windows with the wind giving a little bit of relief.
One thing that could come into play here is cramping on both teams. Turf tends to hold in heat and raise the temperature a few degrees warmer than what is forecasted. It may not be a big advantage, but I think the Cowboys proven ability to run the ball could be a big factor in this game with a little more heat than normal coming into play.
If the Cowboys see success on the ground early, look for them to continue that in the second half and lean on the Giants’ defense in an effort to gas them down the stretch. Ultimately, like I said last week, being in a dome puts all the emphasis on coaching and matchups, both areas I feel the Cowboys take the upper hand in.
New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys “Under the Radar” Players
Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB
New York Giants: Kadarius Toney, WR
Step on down, LVE, your time to shine. Following the sudden departure of his former fellow linebacker, Jaylon Smith, I think the Wolf Hunter shows up this Sunday for the Cowboys’ defense. He has already flashed this season as Cowboys fans recall in his rookie year when he made the Pro Bowl. He knows he is in a contract year and saw the front office is not afraid to make big moves. This is exactly why I think he has a big game Sunday.
The Giants have two receivers, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, each listed as questionable with a hamstring injury for this week after missing last week’s game. Hamstring injuries are tough for me to see a guy being back to 100% right away. The Giants will likely need to lean on running back, Saquon Barkley, after his resurgence last week when he put up 126 total yards and two scores.
The Giants know that Cowboys linebacker, Micah Parsons, can keep up with Barkley, his fellow Penn State Nittany Lion. That is why I think they manipulate schemes to get Vander Esch matching up with Barkley in the passing game and try to get Barkley to the edge in the run game on downs Vander Esch is on the field. The Cowboys need to see that 4.65 40 speed out of him in following Barkley in the passing game and catching him sideline to sideline.
I think Vander Esch plays with a sense of urgency following the release of Jaylon Smith and reminds everyone who he is. Let’s get a little crazy with it. I’m going to predict eight tackles and one big play that is the likes of an interception, fumble recovery, or forced fumble by the Boise State product.
The Giants seem to have figured out how to use their first-round draft pick, receiver, Kadarius Toney. After 14 receiving yards through the first two weeks, Toney contributed nine catches for 78 yards last week. With Shepard and Slayton questionable, Toney could be in line for the lion’s share of targets even if they suit up.
With 4.39 40 speed, Toney is an absolute burner. The Cowboys’ defense hasn’t had to focus on a mix of speed and agility like this, yet. If the Giants have any sense of creative play-calling, they will use Toney on screens, jet sweeps, and deep shots to attack in a myriad of different ways like he was utilized as a Florida Gator. He put up nearly 1,600 receiving yards and almost 600 rushing yards in college.
Giants quarterback, Daniel Jones, is quietly averaging nearly 300 yards through the air each game. Regardless of who is lined up out wide, I have a suspicion he will try to keep the rhythm with Toney. If I am the Giants, I put Toney in the slot to stay away from star cornerback, Trevon Diggs, and force a mismatch or make the Cowboys provide safety help. I would put cornerback Jourdan Lewis on Toney when in the slot and shade over free safety Malik Hooker for help over the top.
New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys Gut Prediction
Prediction: Cowboys 34, Giants 24
To be sort of blunt, I don’t think the Giants should be able to hang with this Cowboys team. It feels that the Cowboys are putting together something special, and the Giants are in a bit of a rebuild mixed with no real direction.
The offensive freight train of the Cowboys doesn’t slow down this week. They show up and they put another game of 30+ points against a defense that ranks in the bottom half of most major categories. The Giants give up 123 rushing yards per game and the Cowboys are averaging nearly 166 rushing yards per game. The favorable matchup of very movable force, the Giants defense, versus the unstoppable object, the Cowboys rushing attack.
The Cowboys’ passing offense should be just fine against the Giants’ pass defense. While better than their run defense, it is still bottom half of the league. I suspect the play-action passing game to open up early and be a big factor in the Cowboys’ offensive success. Dak Prescott gets to put the final nail in the coffin and fully move on from the ankle saga with a couple of touchdowns.
On the flip side, I actually do think Daniel Jones will have a little success through the air. Coming off a 402-yard performance last week, he has some confidence. Saquon Barkley seems to be looking a bit more explosive than he has. The Cowboys’ defense has limited giving up explosive touchdowns, but I have a bad feeling we give one up this week. Don’t worry, though, Dan Quinn will sure it up right away and the defensive clamps go right back on the Giants.
Ultimately, the Cowboys wear down a lesser Giants team and come out with a victory. I predict a 34-24 victory that, like last week against the Panthers, doesn’t feel as close as the score says. NFL games don’t tend to often get to 20+ point margins and I see a game the Cowboys win handily and continue marching onward in a 10-point victory.
This is a game that good teams win when they get rolling and I firmly believe this year’s Cowboys are a good team. I don’t foresee a stumble against the Giants this Sunday and like the Cowboys to move to 4-1. The Cowboys continue to separate themselves from the rest of the NFC East and work to elevate themselves towards the class of the NFC.