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NY Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: How they match up in Week 2 for Sunday Night Football
Art Stapleton Updated 8:53 a.m. ET Sept. 16, 2018
ARLINGTON, Texas - The New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys are 0-1 heading into their Sunday night showdown and a loss would leave one of these NFC East foes with a daunting climb out of an improbable hole to reach the playoffs.
Here's a look at what to expect as these division rivals square off in a compelling early-season encounter.
Giants at Cowboys
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
TV: NBC
Line: Cowboys by 3
What's at stake
Giants: Faith in the new regime, and the notion that falling to 0-2 will create a tremendously difficult path toward contention for a playoff spot. Pat Shurmur and his staff are operating with this being one season, and ultimately, one game with mistakes from Week 1 being just that. For a fan base scorned by last season, and the struggles of recent seasons before that, proof that Big Blue has turned the corner would be a strong performance Sunday night.
Cowboys: Dallas is dealing with questions on offense about how much Dak Prescott can do without Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. If the Cowboys lose at home in prime time after their ugly loss to the Panthers last week, the heat will be on Jason Garrett, at least from outside of the organization.
Key matchup
Giants CB B.W. Webb vs. Cowboys WR Cole Beasley: Beasley will present the toughest matchup within the Cowboys' offense. No Dez and no Witten, but Beasley gave Big Blue fits last season in the opener. Webb has been OK, but really wasn't challenged much by the Jaguars. If Prescott has a big game, Beasley will be a significant part of it.
How they'll win
Giants: Saquon Barkley can become the first rookie since Cadillac Williams in 2005 with 100+ rushing yards in each of his team’s first two games of the season. His 68-yard touchdown was a thing of beauty, but Barkley would settle for more consistency this week. Ereck Flowers is a man under fire at right tackle, especially with Cowboys star DE DeMarcus Lawrence lining up over him. The Giants need to play far better across the offensive line, and if they do that, Eli Manning should be able to make plays in the passing game. Look for Odell Beckham Jr. to get in the end zone at least once if the Giants are to win. Defensively, the Giants must play much better on the edges with Kareem Martin, Connor Barwin and Lorenzo Carter looking to compensate for the absence of Olivier Vernon, who will miss his second straight game.
Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott will put the kind of pressure on the Giants' defense the way Leonard Fournette did at the start last week. The Panther held Elliott in check, but the Giants were vulnerable on the edge. If Elliott can bust a few runs to the outside, Prescott will be that much more effective. The offensive line is still missing C Travis Frederick. RG Zack Martin and LT Tyron Smith need to exert themselves up front. The Cowboys are far more stout than they've been defensively, but the status of DE Randy Gregory (doubtful) would hurt up front. Lawrence dominated the Giants in last season's first meeting and could find a way to do the same this time. The secondary lacks big names, but if the combination of defensive backs can keep the Giants out of the end zone, they could surprise.
