Despite trepidation from fans heading into Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys rolled over the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. This one was all but settled by halftime, as the Cowboys opened up a 26-0 lead after two quarters thanks to touchdowns of the special teams and defensive variety in the first quarter.
Despite rainy conditions, the offense did its part. Dak Prescott took care of the football and would've had a touchdown or two if not for a couple drops in the red zone, but Tony Pollard got the job done with two short TD runs.
When the dust settled from MetLife Stadium, the Cowboys won 40-0 for their biggest shutout win in franchise history. We could ramble on for hours about the performance, so let's jump right into our biggest takeaways from the win.
5. Just wait until the offense gets going
The Cowboys put up a 40 piece and Dak Prescott didn't even throw for 150 yards. He only completed 13 passes and no Dallas pass-catcher not named CeeDee Lamb had more than 30 yards receiving.
Prescott admittedly was off on some throws -- he missed Lamb high in the end zone -- but the conditions weren't conducive to a prolific aerial attack. By all accounts, though, the quarterback looked more comfortable and decisive with head coach Mike McCarthy calling plays. That's the most important thing.
Prescott and Co. face a stiff test against a talented Jets defense in Week 2, but it's downright scary that Dallas won by five touchdowns and the offense hasn't kicked it into high gear. Heck, they had things in cruise control for most of the game with the defense turning in a performance for the ages.
More on that in a minute.
4. Trades for veterans were a thing of beauty
Training camp foreshadowed the impact Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks would have on the 2023 Cowboys and Sunday was a continuation of that.
Cooks unfortunately wasn't asked to do much, but he drew a pass interference penalty on rookie corner Tre Hawkins. It was a 37-yard gain on 3rd and 12. Cooks' experience and veteran savvy made it happen and Dallas moved the chains. He only had two catches for 22 yards, but big games are ahead for the 29-year-old.
Gilmore, meanwhile, was one of myriad standouts on the defensive side of the ball. It took him less than 20 minutes of game time to notch his first Cowboys interception. He made a great break on the ball as Daniel Jones drifted to the sideline and managed to cradle the ball before it could graze the turf.
Tony Pollard scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to give Dallas a 26-0 advantage to put (another) nail in the Giants' coffin.
Gilmore finished with the INT and three passes defended. He's going to feast against team's secondary receivers all season. Cowboys fans can get used to Gilmore and Cooks making winning plays on a weekly basis.
And to think they were had for two fifth-round picks and a sixth-rounder.
3. Tyron Smith turned back the clock
Don't worry, we knocked on wood.
It's one game, but Tyron Smith looked like the Tyron Smith of old. Prescott wasn't sacked and hardly faced any pressure. That's obviously a testament to the entire offensive line, including Chuma Edoga, who filled in admirably at left guard for the injured Tyler Smith, but the elder Smith is the group's biggest wild card.
Making his first start at LT since the 2021 playoff loss to the 49ers, Smith held Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux in check. Thibodeaux looks the part of an legit edge, and Smith didn't allow him to record a single pressure.
Not bad for an OT who was giving up 10 years in age to Thibodaeux.
If this is the version of Smith the Cowboys get all season, all of the concerns fans had about the offensive line will fall by the wayside.
2. Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell earned more playing time
Look, we'd give a game ball to every defensive player if we could, but Thomas and Bell were paramount to the Cowboys' shutout.
Thomas set the tone early and came up with some huge stops against the run that looked like possible big-gainers. It was also Thomas' blocked field goal that opened the scoring and took the air out of a ravenous MetLife Stadium and he delivered a crucial block on Graham Gano on the scoop-and-score.
It was a dream NFL debut for Thomas, but Bell might have one-upped his teammate. The second-year defender led Dallas with eight tackles (six solo), which included blowing up a Saquon Barkley run on third down for a seven-yard loss.
Whenever there was a play to be made in the box, it felt like Bell was right in the thick of it. The Cowboys' pass rush will get most of the credit for Sunday's performance, but Bell was immense in the second level of the defense.
Dan Quinn has to find a way to get both Thomas and Bell on the field moving forward, even when Donovan Wilson returns from his calf injury.
1. The Cowboys have the best defense in the NFL
The 49ers put on a show on the road against the Steelers on Sunday, but they didn't look this dominant. Regardless, it's clear the Cowboys and San Francisco will fight tooth and nail for the NFL's premier defense this season.
Dan Quinn's group didn't give the Giants an inch Sunday night.
Daniel Jones had well under 100 passing yards before garbage time, Saquon Barkley's impact was minimal (to say the least) after the opening drive and the pass rush racked up seven sacks, including two a piece from Dorance Armstrong and Osa Odighizuwa.
Sack barrage notwithstanding, Jones had zero time to go through his reads. And when he did, the Cowboys' secondary was up to the task.
Trevon Diggs forced two turnovers with a massive hit and textbook strip-tackle, while Stephon Gilmore recorded an interception, Jayron Kearse kept Darren Waller in check, and Malik Hooker made multiple big tackles flying in from safety.
Until proven otherwise, Dallas has the NFL's best defense.