The Dallas Cowboys were able to come away with a 23-16 win against the New York Giants. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs sealed the game with an interception, giving the Giants their first loss of the season. Here are the 5 biggest takeaways from last nights game.
1. The Cowboys Dline is a Problem
The Dallas defensive line terrorized Giants Quarterback Daniel Jones all night, as they found themselves in the backfield constantly. The unit was able to produce five sacks, 12 QB hits and pressured Daniel Jones on 40.5% of his dropbacks. Defensive End Demarcus Lawrence had a phenomenal night, as he had a career high of 3 sacks in a game. While star linebacker Micah Parsons failed to record a sack, his presence was still felt as he recorded one tackle, two QB hits, and six pressures. The Dallas defensive front currently leads the NFL with 13 sacks, all while have Parsons as the front runner for Defensive Player of the Year.
2. The Cowboys Run Game is Scary
Most of the fanbase criticized Ezekiel Elliot these past seasons, as he’s failed to produce what he used to. This season however, he’s silenced his doubters as he’s shown us glimpses of his past 2016 self. Against the Giants, he rushed for 73 yards on 13 carries for one touchdown. What’s shocking is he didn’t have the best performance from the running back room last night, that credit belongs to Tony Pollard. Pollard rushed for 105 yards on 13 carries. He had a big run of 47 yards to put Dallas in the red zone.
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3. Cooper Rush Does What is Necessary to Win
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush took over game one after starter Dak Presscot suffered a thumb fracture. With Dak sidelined for a few weeks, Cooper Rush has started in his place. He is more of a game manager than an elite level quarterback, but he gets the job done. He’s been able to come in and win games for Dallas, as he has a 3-0 record as a starter. Against the Giants, he was able to do enough to win, as he completed 67.7% of his passes for 215 yards and one touchdown.
4. Ceedee’s Struggles
When Dallas drafted Ceedee Lamb back in 2020, they expected him to eventually succeed Amari Cooper and become Dallas’ number one wide receiver. Last season he showed promise, as he caught 79 passes for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns as Dallas’ third option at receiver. With Cooper off to Cleveland, and Gallup recovering from an ACL injury, Lamb has been forced to step up as the Cowboys number one receiver. He has struggled to fill that role, as he’s had problems dropping the ball. Last night alone he had three drops, one of which would’ve been an easy touchdown. Even with his drops he’s still made big time plays, as he had the one handed game winning touchdown. With Michael Gallup expected to return next week, it should take some pressure off of Ceedee.
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5. Hope is Not All Lost
After the Cowboys’ emberassing 19-3 loss to the Bucs, it seemed Dallas had no shot of making the playoffs. However, there playoff hope have emerged after their 2-1 start. Even without Dak Presscott, the Cowboys have shown that they can still win games. They have an easy schedule before Dak’s return week six, and can win a few games before he returns.