It's game three on Monday Night Football in the NFL with the New York Giants hosting the division rival Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in a battle of the bottom of the barrel quarterbacks of the league.
Or so they say.
The Cowboys' defense will face the Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones who has been quiet in the first two games of the year with just 3 TDs to just 1 INT. But that's been enough to lead his team to an undefeated 2-0 to begin the 2022 regular season.
Jones hasn't looked that good to begin his season, but the potential is there. If the Cowboys' defense sleeps on Jones' potential as they focus on stopping Barkley and the Giants' run game, Jones could actually be lethal. He's more dynamic than anyone we've played, because he can beat you in the run game. The numbers don't show it, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Giants' offense improves as the season progresses.
Thus far, the Giants defense has looked pretty good against what some argue is questionable competition. But they've played well enough as a unit to compensate for the lackluster start by their offense against the Panthers and Titans.
After most teams have already played three games, the only undefeated teams remaining are the Giants, Eagles, and the Dolphins.
Will the Giants continue their streak?
Things to Look For
Pass rush.
The Cowboys pass rush should be firing on all cylinders tonight. That fact has probably been the focus of their game plan all week. The entire Giants offensive line has likely attended a crash course on Micah Parsons this week. Parsons is on pace for 34 sacks this season. If he continues playing along the defensive line in most pass rushing situations, it wouldn't be an entirely impossible milestone for him to reach.
Yes, he is that good.
Speaking of pass rush, the Giants defense played well through week 2, especially considering they were short their best pass rushers in both of those games. Tonight, both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari will return to the lineup.
This means Rush will need to do what he did against the Bengals: get rid of the ball quickly enough to keep the drive alive without turning it over.
How we Win
The Cowboys can win by running the ball, and then running it some more. Statistics show that when the Cowboys run the ball 30 times a game, they almost always win. That holds true for Prescott, historically. But it's also true for Cooper Rush.
By now, the Giants have seen enough of Rush's arm to figure out that it's only a matter of time before Cooper Rush throws a pick. That said, there are things the Cowboys can do to keep them honest and to keep from turning over the ball.
Above all, priority number one for the Cowboys should be scoring points this game preferably in the form of touch downs.
Offensively, look for the Cowboys to try to gain on an early lead on the Giants and then maintain their lead with the defense.
This game has potential to be really exciting. But there's also a chance it could be a low-scoring battle of the defenses since both teams have had issues moving the ball and getting into the endzone.
I hope to see the Cowboys get a few of their younger offensive players involved during this game, whether that be Fergeson, Hendershot, Fehoko or Tolbert, all who should be active for this game.
I'm looking for one of those players to break out tonight, which would help the team win what is our most important game so far this season.
Special Teams
He was flashy during the preseason, scoring two touchdowns on separate returns in one game, but we haven't heard much from Kevontae Turpin this season.
Could he be due?
Is it Turpin Time yet?
Worst Case Scenario
What's the worst thing that could happen tonight?
Well, the worst thing would be Cooper Rush stinking up MetLife Stadium so that all we hear this week from the always-whining Cowboys' fans is how much they despise Jerry and Prescott. If Rush loses, fans will predictably blame Jerry for everything wrong in their lives. If he wins, they will point to the win as an example of why Cooper Rush is better than Dak Prescott and how Dak Prescott is the root of their every personal problem.
Prescott just can't win in some fans' eyes.
In any event, this game should be fun to watch even if it's just Parsons racking up stats during a tough loss. I always find a way to enjoy the Cowboys' games. And you should, too.
