If there is one thing the Dallas Cowboys can be counted on for every year, it's beating the New York Giants.
However, Dallas completing the season sweep over its NFC East rival just got more complicated after they fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday after blowing a double-digit lead against the Chicago Bears. It marked the second time this season that the Giants lost after leading by at least 10 points with less than four minutes left in regulation.
New York has named offensive coordinator Mike Kafka its interim head coach. It stands to reason that Kafka will be in charge of the operation when the Cowboys travel to East Rutherford in Week 18.
Of course, that game could mean nothing as it pertains to the 2025 season. What makes Daboll's firing potentially bad news for the Cowboys is that it opens the door for offensive coordinator Klayton Adams to get hired as Daboll's replacement.
Cowboys losing Klayton Adams to the Giants would be a nightmare
No reports have connected Adams to the Giants' vacancy. Daboll is probably still cleaning out his desk, and New York won't decide on his replacement until after the season. It stands to reason that the Giants don't even have a shortlist of candidates yet.
However, it is only a matter of time until the league realizes that Adams is a gem and future head coach material. While Brian Schottenheimer has the play sheet on Sundays, Adams is the architect behind a Cowboys rushing attack that is currently seventh in rushing EPA and fourth in rushing success rate.
A prolific passing game is key to winning in the NFL, but the truly elite teams are able to run the football at an efficient clip. It's no surprise that the Rams, Colts, Packers, Eagles, Lions, and Bills all rank in the top 10 in either rushing EPA or rushing success rate. And it would not surprise if they are some of the last teams standing this season.
Nobody would consider the Cowboys' offensive line elite. The same way nobody would throw Javonte Williams' name into a conversation of the game's best running backs. Williams has certainly played at a high level this season, but the scheme is the straw that stirs the drink.
Adams will garner head coaching interest at some point in the near future. And the Giants are an attractive landing spot with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart looking like the real deal.
Fortunately for Dallas, the Giants' dysfunction might cloud them from giving Adams a real look. But that door has suddenly cracked open now that Daboll has been shown the door.