It took everything the Dallas Cowboys had to get a win on Sunday, but they got it done. A 40-37 overtime win is what it took to beat the Giants, but the Cowboys are now 1-1 going into a big game against the Bears in Week 3.
But before we look ahead to next week, here are some of the top performers from Week 2 and a few names who need to step in future outings.
3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Dallas Cowboys' Week 2 win
Winner: George Pickens
The overall numbers weren’t huge for Pickens, but he was fantastic in Week 2. He finished the game with five catches for 68 yards and the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Pickens also had a huge reception in the overtime period, which helped set up Brandon Aubrey’s game-winning field goal.
But just like last week, Pickens’ impact went beyond the box score. He drew two huge pass interference calls that gave Dallas points earlier in the game. Dak Prescott is still working on his connection with Pickens, but the fact that he’s been able to help move the chains on limited targets is excellent news for this offense. Bigger (statistical) days are coming for Pickens, but he was fantastic for Dallas in Week 2.
Winner: Javonte Williams
No one is going to confuse Javonte Williams with Saquon Barkley, but he had another fantastic outing for the Cowboys. He led Dallas in rushing with 97 yards and averaged a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. Williams got into the end zone again this week, bringing his touchdown total to three after two games.
Williams was also used heavily as a receiver in this game, catching six passes for 33 yards. While he’s never been a dynamic player after the catch, he does have reliable hands and racked up 130 yards from scrimmage.
The Cowboys have vowed to be a better running team this season and through two games, they’ve been better than expected. Williams isn’t overly flashy, but he’s efficient and has been incredibly effective for Dallas so far.
Winner: Dak Prescott
The Cowboys offense got off to a slow start in Week 2, scoring just 10 points in the first half. Prescott missed a few easy throws and the end-of-half sequence was a disaster in every single way.
But elite quarterbacks get better as the game goes on and that’s what Prescott did on Sunday. The offense scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and he gave the Cowboys the lead with under a minute left. And after Malik Nabers scored just a few plays later, Prescott gave Brandon Aubrey a chance to hit a 64-yard field goal to take the game to overtime.
Overtime got off to a rough start, but Prescott made enough plays late to give his team the win. He finished the game with 361 passing yards despite facing one of the league's top pass rushes. And while it wasn’t always pretty, the Cowboys got the win, mostly because of their QB.
Loser: Donovan Wilson
Wilson deserves credit for making a huge interception in overtime on a moonball from Russell Wilson, but this is a game he would like to forget. The Giants targeted him down the field all day long and it resulted in the Giants scoring 37 points.
The Cowboys are going to play a ton of zone coverage this year, especially with Daron Bland and Shavon Revel out with injuries. That means the safeties will be tasked being disciplined and this was the opposite of that. Things can always improve as the season goes on, but this was a rough outing for Wilson in nearly every way.
Loser: Cowboys pass rush
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the pass rush continues to be an issue. But the lack of pressure was glaring in Week 2. The Giants were without their top offensive lineman, Andrew Thomas, and his backup was eventually benched after four-straight penalties.
However, Wilson was sacked just three times and threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns. This is likely the worst offensive line that the Cowboys will face all year, and the lack of pressure was noticeable. And that’s probably why Dallas signed Jadeveon Clowney the moment the game ended.