Dallas Cowboys Game Preview: Week 2 vs. New York Giants

Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott in 2023. Photo credit: Mitchell Leff, Getty Images.

The Dallas Cowboys head into Sunday’s 12 p.m. central time (1 p.m. eastern) kickoff against their division rival New York Giants with an 0-1 record. In the season opener on September 4 at Philadelphia, the Cowboys put together a strong effort against the defending champions in a tighter than expected affair. 

The Cowboys lost the game 24-20, with star receiver CeeDee Lamb’s crucial drops late in the game sealing things for the Eagles. Cowboy quarterback Dak Prescott completed 21-of-34 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns but was mistake-free with zero interceptions. Javonte Williams in his first game as a Cowboy had a decent game with 54 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. You would like in Week 2 to see a higher YPC than 3.6, though. Lamb caught seven balls for 110 yards. George Pickens was targeted four times and caught three balls for 30 yards though he did have an important sideline catch late in the game that kept things alive for the Cowboys. He also drew a crucial pass interference call early in the game. One would expect Pickens to be more involved this week. 

On the defensive side, the Cowboys struggled. The interior of their line with new acquisition Kenny Clark played well, but linebacker Jack Sanborn looked slow and Kenneth Murray, despite nine tackles, looked lost on some plays. The secondary played admirably. This is a unit that will have to up its play even more with DaRon Bland out for this week and beyond with a foot injury. Onus will be on newcomer corner the former Bill Kaiir Elam and Reddy Stewart, the latter who played for defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus in Chicago with the Bears. 

Speaking of Eberflus, his group rarely blitzed in Week 1. He rushed four pass rushers on 78.8% of snaps, and on those plays, Eagle QB Jalen Hurts was 16-of-19 for 135 yards with a 96.3 QB rating. Pressure will need to be brought against the Giants. 

Speaking of Hurts, the Super Bowl winning QB completed 19-of-23 passes overall for 152 yards against the Cowboys, but ran 62 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Inexplicably, the Cowboys did not spy him, allowing him to easily get up the field. The Cowboy defense held Saquon Barkley to 60 yards on 18 carries (one touchdown) and held DeVonta Smith to three catches for 16 yards and A.J. Brown to one catch for 8 yards. 

Against the Giants, the Cowboys offensive line will face a talented group in Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Carter and Thibodeaux registered a half sack each in the team’s 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders, while Burns tallied two. The Giants also registered seven pressures in the game. It will be vital for the Cowboys’ front, who gave up no sacks in Week 1, to keep Prescott upright in Week 2. 

Russell Wilson completed just 17-of-37 passes in Week 1 for 168 yards and an average of 4.5 yards per play. Star wideout Malik Nabers tallied 71 yards on five catches while Wan’Dale Robinson caught six balls for 55 yards. That pairing will be an emphasis for the Cowboy secondary. The Giant run game in Week 1 was led by Wilson who ran for 44 yards on eight rushes. Tyrone Tracy Jr., the team’s second year back who ran for 839 yards last season, tallied just 24 yards on 10 carries against the Commanders. The Cowboys should be able to contain the run game, but their front is not as good as Washington’s and has more question marks on the edge. 

Dante Fowler Jr. and Donovan Ezeiruaku must play better especially in the run game where they frequently lost contain against the Eagles. Andrew Thomas, a 2nd team All-Pro tackle in 2022 and the Giants’ most accomplished offensive lineman, is doubtful for the game due to injury. Thomas not suiting up would be a big advantage for the Cowboys. Second unit linemen Solomon Thomas and Marshawn Kneeland played well in Week 1 as did end Sam Williams. Expect Marist Liufau, who is the backup WLB to Damone Clark, to get more snaps against the Giants. Safety Malik Hooker was limited in Wednesday’s practice but is not listed on the injury report. 

The Cowboys, after going undefeated at home in the regular season in 2022 and 2023, went just 2-7 at AT&T Stadium in 2024, losing their first five home games. They will be looking on Sunday to buck that trend. Prescott has won thirteen consecutive games against the Giants - his last loss versus the rival was on December 11, 2016 - and the Giants have lost eight consecutive contests versus the Cowboys. This is a game where the Cowboys’ biggest battle will be up front. If they can win that struggle, they should be able to win comfortably. Nabers is a bonafide weapon, but Wilson has struggled and that is a concern for the Giants.

Prediction: Cowboys 28 Giants 13