Kick-off on the night of Thursday to Friday at 02:15
New York Giants (1-2) – Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
Make way for the NFC! For the first time this season, the Thursday night clash leaves the American conference and heads to the National Conference. See you for a historic duel between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.
Equal records (1-2) but opposite trajectories for the two opponents this Thursday. While Dallas had brilliantly won its opening match against the Browns (33-17), the following two weeks were a real nightmare with two defeats and 72 points conceded. On the Big Apple side, after two defeats without shining, the trip to Cleveland to face the Browns (them again) will have been the right one. A well-conducted half-time was enough for the Giants to be happy (21-15).
Not-so-giant New Yorkers
Three weeks. It took the New York Giants three weeks to get their first win. Against a very lackluster Browns team, Daniel Jones and his men did the job… Part-time. The essentials were done in one half, before the attack fizzled out in the second half. A half-hearted victory that nevertheless confirms the progress made since the start of the season. The offensive line is extremely efficient, and Daniel Jones takes advantage of it to post respectable statistics (62/104, 600 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) while the running game is more efficient than expected (with 197 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns for Devin Singletary). A tree that should not hide the forest however, the offensive level remains limited and the ground defense problems are present.
To make matters worse, the Giants have gotten used to getting pummeled by their opponents on the night. Last season, Dallas won the opening game at MetLife Stadium (0-40), then the Week 10 game in Dallas (49-17). These defeats don't seem to concern Giants coach Brian Daboll.
“I think everyone is motivated by different things. My goal is to get ready to play that 2024 team, the team that just played those first three games. The players are different, the schemes are different. We’re doing a good job in our practices, our meetings and our communication. We have a short week and we don’t have a lot of time to prepare. So that’s what I’m focusing on.”
Dallas Cowboys have problems in the trenches
After losing for the second straight time this season, the Texans need a boost. Defensively for one, as they have conceded a whopping 89 points so far. The Giants could be the ideal remedy, having scored only 45 points in the first 3 games. To do this, they will have to stop the open-door operations in the trenches. Dallas is indeed the worst team in the league against the run with 557 yards conceded. Worse still, they offer the best average (5.4 yards per carry) and the most touchdowns (8) to their opponents. It is not better on offense, since Rico Dowdle and company have accumulated only 221 yards on the ground (3rd worst total in the NFL). Faced with the 23rd defense against the run, they have an opportunity to improve.
On the good news side, however, the Dallas Cowboys have something to look forward to. Led by Dak Prescott, the Cowboys managed to score three touchdowns in the final 9 minutes of the game against Baltimore. A breathtaking momentum that only asks to be continued this Thursday. The other good news is that the opponent is the New York Giants, a team they have beaten six times in a row, and 13 times in the last 14 meetings.
Players to watch: Malik Nabers & Dak Prescott
The star and his competitor? While CeeDee Lamb will certainly drive the New York defense crazy, a receiver is making a name for himself on the other side of the field. An (already) essential piece of the New York attack, Malik Nabers (WR) never ceases to impress. His statistics in 3 games are dazzling: 23 receptions, 271 yards, 3 touchdowns (tied for first in the NFL). But more than numbers, it is above all his involvement in the offensive game that is remarkable. Targeted on average 12.3 times per game, he is the most targeted receiver in the NFL. And he knows how to be decisive, since he accumulates 6 receptions of more than 20 yards, has obtained 14 first downs, and has collected 131 yards after reception.
In the fog, captain Dak Prescott (QB) is still the one holding the boat. Abandoned by his runners and part of his line, he is against all odds the most consistent player in the Dallas attack. At the start of the season, he has already thrown for 851 yards (league leader) and scored 5 touchdowns (including 1 on the ground). But the most reassuring thing is that he has gotten into the habit of dominating his division opponents when he is given the favorite. The Mississippi State product has a 21-6 record in NFC East clashes when the Cowboys are given the favorites, including a perfect 5-0 last season. Against New York, Prescott had also won the two 2023 games with a cumulative differential of 72 points. While the bookmakers give the Cowboys favorites this Thursday night, who can stop him?
The Prediction: Dallas Cowboys
The New York Giants seem more in a sprint for the No. 1 pick in the draft than for the playoffs. At the same time, and despite a timid start, the Cowboys seem better off. They still have hopes in the division, and their roster seems much superior to that of the New Yorkers. While the loser will see the playoffs move away, the winner will be able to keep Washington and Philadelphia in their sights. Beware the loser.
