Dallas Cowboys (6-3) – New York Giants (2-8): 49-17
When a team brings in its substitutes at the start of the 4th quarter, it is easy to guess that the match was not very competitive. The match was over at halftime (28-0). Yes, a 28-point deficit is not insurmountable. Indeed, the NFL is filled with examples to the contrary. But even more than the score, it was above all the difference in level which was the most obvious. Professionals against children. And even when the Cowboys brought in Cooper Rush and his band of substitutes against the New York starters, the level remained balanced.
We suspected it since then, and this match confirmed it: the Giants are the weakest team in the league in recent weeks. A 25-year-old rookie starting for the first time behind one of the most porous lines in the NFL did not bode well. On the ground, it was worse than expected.
New York without solution
Obviously, it’s impossible to win a game if you don’t move the ball forward. During the meeting, the Giants won half as many first downs as their opponents. Their success in the 3rd attempt? A disastrous 0/12. They only held the ball for 22 minutes, and only advanced 3.1 yards per play. How can this team hope to exist, especially against a defense of the level of that of the Cowboys.
And it is very difficult to advance the ball when the offensive line is incapable of holding off the opposing defense. DeVito only starts because of successive injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor. And given the level of protection, the accumulation of blows received may be an explanation for these injuries.
Poor Tommy DeVito (14/27, 86 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 7 races, 41 yards) was in great difficulty, amassing almost as many yards passing as running. Only, the Giants didn’t really call a ground play from DeVito. The rookie racked up those yards by getting out of the pocket and running for his life. But in vain, since he was sacked five times.
Ruthless Dallas
Opposite, the Cowboys did not have to force their talent. Dak Prescott had fun (26/35, 404 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 1 TD on the ground) and happily served CeeDee Lamb (11 rec, 151 yards, 1 TD, 1 TD on the ground) and Brandin Cooks ( 9 rec, 173 yards, 1 TD). Interesting statistic: Brandin Cooks therefore accumulated 173 receiving yards, one yard more than the entire Giants attack.
The only negative point is the recurring difficulties of Tony Pollard (15 races, 55 yards). Dallas’ number one runner suffered what he inflicted in recent seasons on Ezekiel Elliott. Indeed, the replacement was much better than the incumbent. Rico Dowdle (12 races, 79 yards, 1 TD) wandered through New York’s very porous defense, even going so far as to score a touchdown at the very end of the match.
There aren’t many lessons to be learned from this match. The Giants are bad, we knew it, and the second year of the Daboll project turned into a disaster. The Cowboys are good, in many areas, and already have their eyes on January.
