ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys have now won four-straight games, culminating in a 44-20 victory over the New York Giants. Dallas advances to 4-1 and takes a two-game lead in the NFC East.
Dallas came into the game as a 7-point favorite over the Giants and the matchup proved more challenging as the game wore on as New York lost quarterback Daniel Jones, featured running back Saquon Barkley, and run-after-catch threat Kenny Golladay to injury.
Despite a sloppy start for the Cowboys in the first half featuring two turnovers, several missed snaps, and a dropped pass in the end zone, the Cowboys rallied in the second. The squad spurred a win Mike McCarthy labeled the “first game from start to finish we kept our feet on the gas.”
The way the Cowboys played in the second half was a microcosm of the season thus far, including a dominant run game and a Trevon Diggs interception. Sound familiar? Kellen Moore once again took advantage of the defense’s box count and the offensive line/tight end chips created seams for rushers with second level blocks.
Ezekiel Elliott finished with 110 rushing yards, his second-straight game eclipsing the 100-yard marker at AT&T Stadium. He gashed Patrick Graham’s defense with his decisiveness on cuts and cashed in with a rushing and receiving touchdown. Tony Pollard added 75 yards to the ground total in addition. The run game created favorable matchups on the outside for Dak Prescott and three weapons finished with at least 60 receiving yards: CeeDee Lamb (84), Dalton Schultz (79), and Amari Cooper (60). Even ball distribution is the key to the Cowboys’ explosiveness.
On the opposite side of the ball, Dan Quinn’s unit amassed two more interceptions. Diggs recorded his sixth interception in five games and Anthony Brown registered a pick six in the fourth quarter to extend the team’s lead.
On the one-year anniversary of his right ankle fracture and dislocation, Prescott did not get off to a stellar start. Dallas turned the ball over twice in the first quarter that ended promising drives. The first came on a tipped pass by Lorenzo Carter who hauled it in for an interception. Dallas then ended the quarter with Prescott fumbling on the five-yard line which the Giants recovered. Reggie Ragland was there to pounce on the ball for New York. However, courtesy of the Cowboys’ defense, Daniel Jones and company were not able to capitalize on the Cowboys’ errors. The Giants had to settle for a field goal (54-yarder missed in the first quarter) and the Cowboys responded. Prescott threw a 49-yard bomb to CeeDee lamb for a touchdown. He hit him perfectly in stride and the momentum shifted. It took four plays to get into the end zone as Lamb ran untouched to give the Cowboys a 10-0 lead.
The Giants then tied the game after the next two possessions. First a 51-yard field goal by Graham Gano, and then a methodical 12-play, 88-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard rush by Devontae Booker for a touchdown. With three minutes to go in the second, it was time for Prescott to answer. In eight plays, the Cowboys had reached the end zone. A 24-yard completion to Amari Cooper brought Dallas to a 17-10 lead into the half. Cooper’s cut inside left the Giants’ cornerback in the dust.
Like last week against the Panthers, the Cowboys kicked it to high gear in the third. Th team put up 10 points. The Giants opened with a 51-yard field goal, but Dallas responded by marching 75 yards down the field in 10 plays. The impressive sequence began with Dak Prescott throwing a strike to Schultz for a 30-yard completion. Prescott rolled to the right to evade pressure and hit Schultz to set up the touchdown. Moore pulled out the trick bag. Prescott faked a pitch to Elliott, looked away to divert the defense, Elliot got open in the flat, and then Prescott threw a pass back to the running back he originally faked to.
Trevon Diggs continued his streak. He picked off Mike Glennon on a deep pass for his sixth interception of the year in a five-game span. The Cowboys had to settle for a field goal off Diggs’ takeaway due to penalties on the following possession.
Dallas continued to go the distance. The offense got in the end zone again off a nine play, 98-yard drive. Wideout Cedrick Wilson connected with Noah Brown on a 22-yard completion prior to catching a 35-yard pass down the sideline himself to move the chains. From 13 yards out, Elliott made his way around the right side and skipped across the goal line.
The Giants responded with a touchdown of their own, a three-yard dump to Booker, but by that point, it was too late. The Cowboys recovered the onside kick and added three more points for good measure – a 31-yard field goal by Zuerlein.
With 1:57 left in the game, Anthony Brown added salt to the wound. He recorded a pick six. Brown picked off Glennon’s pass intended for Collin Johnson and darted untouched 45 yards to the end zone to make it a 44-20 ballgame.
Not the cleanest performance by the Cowboys but nonetheless, a victory.
