3 distinct advantages the Cowboys have over the Giants in 2022

It’s time for the third and final installation of this series where we share the advantages that the Dallas Cowboys have over their NFC East rivals. We thought we’d save the best — and by that we mean likely the easiest to beat — for last with the good ole New York Giants. Lately, the Giants don’t look all that much better than their fellow New York football team.

To the Giants’ credit, they did make some serious organizational changes this offseason that should really help. But the likelihood is that the help will take time. New GM Joe Schoen and new head coach Brian Daboll are great additions to the franchise, but expecting them to make a complete turnaround of the organization in one year seems like a lofty expectation.

Dallas has swept New York four times in the last five seasons, and they look to do it again in 2022. Let’s see what advantages they have to help them do so.

3 distinct advantages the Dallas Cowboys have over the New York Giants in 2022

1. Quarterback

This may look familiar. It’s the first and biggest advantage the Cowboys have over every one of their NFC East rivals. Whether you hate Dak Prescott or not, it’s incredibly easy to admit that he is a better QB than Daniel Jones, Carson Wentz, and Jalen Hurts.

Jones hasn’t had an easy start in the pros. His rookie year was full of turnovers, he’s had three head coaching changes, and has dealt with some pretty severe injuries. The Duke product will have a new-look offensive line to help protect him, but it’s unlikely that will be enough to help the young QB make a full 180 this year.

Daboll will be a great coach for Jones, but I doubt it will be enough to resurrect Jones. The team will likely toss him to the side next year and look for talent in the draft, especially since Daboll and Schoen weren’t the ones who picked Jones. Plus, the organization already declined his fifth-year option, meaning he is headed for free agency next year. Most see Jones as a placeholder for whoever is next in line.

Jones may be better than expected, but even if he is that, expect Trevon Diggs and the rest of the Cowboys’ secondary to make his life and future in the NFL very difficult.

2. Giants Secondary

The Giants’ secondary has some major gaps and question marks heading into this season. For some reason, the franchise decided to get rid of a bunch of valuable pieces from the same position groups. They said goodbye to safety Jabrill Peppers, two-time Super Bowl champion cornerback Logan Ryan, and Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry. Not ideal.

According to their depth chart, the Giants’ starting cornerbacks are Cordale Flott and Adoree Jackson. Flott is a third-round pick from this year’s draft who has zero NFL experience. Jackson is a former first-round pick out of USC who has struggled to make his mark in the NFL. Last year with New York, he had just one interception and 62 tackles in 12 starts.

Safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love are still young and don’t bring star talent to the Giants’ secondary.

The good news is the Cowboys face the Giants early on in Week 3, so they’re struggling secondary should help with the adjustment and learning period for Dallas’s new receivers. It will be incredibly challenging for New York to make up for those three big defensive back losses.

3. Running Back Comparisons

As the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Saquon Barkley entered the NFL with so much promise and potential. His rookie season was strong, but from there, injuries have kept him off the field and lowered his production significantly.

A second overall pick simply shouldn’t have 627 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two seasons. He was the 32nd ranked running back in 2021. Barkley’s subpar offensive line certainly didn’t help his chances either, but that won’t be a valid excuse this year.

Let’s be clear, though. Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t been himself in a few years either. However, the combination of a supposedly healthy Zeke and Tony Pollard is a humongous advantage over a questionable Barkley. For the Giants, if Barkley doesn’t perform or gets hurt, they are stuck with subpar free agent signing Matt Breida. If Elliott can’t get his legs going, a powerful Pollard will be ready and willing to take the reins with ease.

The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year could certainly return to form in 2022, but there’s truly no certainty. And, as we’ve learned with Elliott, these days, running backs just aren’t able to last as long as teams hope.

Overall, the odds are definitely in the Cowboys’ favor for both Week 3 and Week 12. The first matchup will be on Monday Night Football and the Giants are 25-45-1 in MNF games, including a 16-32-1 record for road games. The second matchup is the Thanksgiving game, and the Cowboys are going to want serious revenge from last year’s ugly loss to the Raiders.

On paper, Dallas should win both of these games with ease.