It is seemingly hard to believe but we are already five weeks into the NFL season. Even with the additional game put on the schedule, we are now 30% done with the 2021 campaign. For your Dallas Cowboys, things could not be going any better.
At 4-1, Dallas sits atop the NFC East, with two wins already within the division. The hated Philadelphia Eagles have one divisional loss, thanks to the Cowboys. The New York Giants, meanwhile, have two and are arguably the most banged-up team in the NFL at this moment. Lastly, Washington, the team most people thought would be the Cowboys’ toughest competitor has just two wins, one over the Giants and the other against Atlanta.
Not only is Dallas sitting pretty in the division, they compare very favorably to the best teams within the NFC. The Cowboys have scored the most points through five games of any NFC team, totaling 170 points so far. Their point differential of +53 is second only to the undefeated Arizona Cardinals. Dallas is also tied with the Rams, just one game behind Arizona for the best conference record in the NFC.
Riding a four-game winning streak and about to take their show on the road to New England, let’s take this moment to look back on the good, the bad, and the ugly from a 44-20 victory over the New York Giants.
Dallas Cowboys Week 5: The Good
The last time the Giants were in Dallas, we all know the terrible outcome that occurred. Exactly 367 days to the day of this article, quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a compound fracture of his lower leg and ankle. Many wondered what version of the young quarterback we would see once he made his comeback.
No one is wondering any longer. Besides an interception on his opening drive (an incredibly athletic play by outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter I might add) and a fumble later on (we’ll get to that later), Prescott was his usual phenomenal self. Throwing for three touchdowns and eclipsing the 300-yard mark, Dak was in complete control of whatever the Giants defense showed him.
To be able to finally vanquish the demons that come from the combination of the field he was injured on and the team he was playing at the time was even sweeter. All year, the media has been relentless in bringing up the situation. Now, it is truly just a part of history.
Having the game that Prescott had while earning such a decisive victory should just add to his already sky-high confidence. If that is the case, the rest of the league has more to fear than Prescott ever does of extending another play with his legs.
Dallas Cowboys Week 5: The Bad
To say that the New York Giants were limited in this game would be a massive understatement. On their second drive of the game, as the first quarter was nearing its end, an errant pass to running back Saquon Barkley turned out to be much worse than just an incompletion.
Barkley accidentally stepped on cornerback Jourdan Lewis’ foot and severely sprained his ankle. Within minutes, his ankle ballooned to the size of a grapefruit ending his day. Later on, receiver Kenny Golladay hyperextended his knee. While he did manage to stay in the game for a bit of time after the fact, he was rendered almost useless.
The biggest blow, however, came late in the second quarter when quarterback Daniel Jones attempted to score on the goal line and, instead, obtained a concussion which took him out of the game as well.
With all of these weapons gone, one guy still seemed to wreak havoc on the Cowboys’ defense. Rookie Kadarius Toney had his way with Dallas defenders, catching 10 passes for 189 yards. If not for an unwise decision of his own, resulting in his ejection for throwing a punch, it would have been even worse.
Whether it was the lack of a threat in losing the game or a somewhat understandable letting down of their guard after these injuries, it’s still not a good look to let one dude go bananas when there isn’t anyone else of concern doing anything. This happened the week prior against Carolina, resulting in more points than the Giants mustered. It’s not a trend I would advise the Cowboys defense to continue moving forward.
Dallas Cowboys Week 5: The Ugly
Two weeks ago, when writing the “bad” section of a 41-20 victory over Philadelphia, I chose to address the defense’s inability to cover simple crossing routes over the play of their offensive line. I chalked up the issue as facing one of the best interior defensive lines and gave it a pass.
Unfortunately, issues came up once again in this game, primarily in regards to center Tyler Biadasz and so it must be discussed. Whether it is the issue of handling top-notch defenders bull-rushing him or the several snaps that missed the mark, this could be a major problem moving forward.
While the Cowboys do not face the Los Angeles Rams in the regular season, a potential postseason matchup could be in their future. If you don’t think Aaron Donald will take full advantage of shaky center play, you’re greatly mistaken. Dallas could also face the Buccaneers again when it matters most. Their fearsome duo of Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh will expose that flaw as well.
If they are not already doing so, the Cowboys would be best served by giving Connor McGovern several attempts at center. Biadasz needs another off-season in the weight room to bulk up and his snap issues may have been due to lots of reasons but the littlest things can derail a special season. It definitely is something that can no longer be swept under the rug.