Cowboys Pound Giants Into Submission

The Dallas Cowboys (6-3) offense exploded for 641 total yards and seven touchdowns, five from quarterback Dak Prescott to blowout the New York Giants (2-8) 49-17 on Sunday afternoon in another NFC East game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

PRESOTT/LAMB CONTINUE HOT STREAK

The Cowboys offensive dynamic duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb roasted another defense on Sunday.

This time the New York Giants were the victim, as Lamb caught nine of 12 targets from Prescott for 142 yards. He also caught another two passes for nine yards from quarterback Cooper Rush, who took over for Prescott to start the fourth quarter. Lamb also had a rushing touchdown on a 14-yard end around in the first half.

It is the fourth straight game that Lamb has gone for at least 117 yards and seven catches.

Prescott picked right up where he left off last week in Philadelphia.

Prescott finished his afternoon completing 26 of 35 passes for 404 yards and five total touchdowns in the blowout win over New York. He completed passes to seven different receivers and finished with a 138.3 quarterback rating in the win.

Prescott’s arm was not the only weapon on display for the Cowboys quarterback, he also used his legs again. This time, Prescott rushed just twice for 17 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run late in second quarter.

Prescott was hot to start. He completed 18 of 24 passes in the first half for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw an interception deep in Cowboys territory, but the defense held the Giants off the scoreboard.

Prescott only completed passes to four different players – but 14 of his 18 completions went to three different wide receivers – Jalen Brooks, his first two catches of his NFL career, Lamb and Cooks.

RUN DEFENSE SHINES EARLY VS. NEW YORK

With a rookie undrafted quarterback making his first NFL start, the Cowboys knew that stopping the running game for the Giants would be key in getting the victory.

The Cowboys held the Giants to xx yards rushing on xx carries on Sunday afternoon, behind some dominant play from the interior of the Cowboys defensive line.

Cowboys defensive tackles Nevil Gallimore, Mazi Smith, Osa Odighizuwa and Jonathan Hankins led the charge, finishing with a total of nine tackles. Smith and Gallimore led the group with three each.

The Giants did rush for 111 yards in the game, but it was out of hand before they ever got on track.

In the first half, the Giants ran the ball 11 times for 11 yards, including seven carries for one yard from Saquon Barkley.

The run defense did have let down early in the third quarter, when the Giants marched 91 yards for their first points of the game. New York ran seven plays, six were runs that gained 71 yards.

The Cowboys defense buckled down again after the drive, allowing 28 yards on six carries the rest of the way. Barkley finished with 66 yards on 13 carries, while quarterback Tommy DeVito rushed seven times for 41 yards.

COOKS COMES TO LIFE

The talk during the week of practice leading up to Sunday’s game was about Brandin Cooks and getting him the football. It appears head coach Mike McCarthy heard the whispers loud and clear.

Brandin Cooks responded with his best day as a Dallas Cowboy and the second-best day of his 10-year NFL career. Cooks finished with nine catches on 10 targets for 173 yards, with a long of 37 yards, and a touchdown.

Cooks has only had one better day in his career, coming in December of 2016 with the New Orleans Saints, when he caught seven of eight targets from quarterback Drew Brees, for 186 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-41 win over Arizona.

On Sunday at AT&T Stadium, McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott targeted Brandin Cooks on the opening play of the game, a four-yard reception. He caught another six passes in the first half, for seven total on seven targets, and 104 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown strike from Dak Prescott with 2:48 to play in the opening 30 minutes. He had his way with the Giants secondary.

Cooks finished his day with nine catches for 173 yards, and a 10-yard TD catch in the second quarter.

It was by far his best day as a Dallas Cowboy, and his first 100-yard receiving day since the final game last season, when he caught five of six targets for 106 yards and a touchdown for the Texans in a 32-31 win over Indianapolis.

Cooks came into Sunday with 17 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns in his seven games with Dallas this season.

COWBOYS RUSH TOO MUCH FOR DEVITO

The Cowboys put pressure on Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito all afternoon long, limiting him to just 86 yards passing and a 67.8 quarterback rating.

DeVito completed 14 passes on 27 attempts, but five of those completions came on the final drive of the game for New York against the Dallas backups and the Cowboys leading 49-10.

DeVito targeted 10 different Giants, connecting with eight. Tight End Daniel Bellinger caught three passes for 34 yards to lead the way for New York.

On Sunday afternoon, DeVito was sacked five times, with one each coming from Nevil Gallimore, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong.

Dallas limited to New York to 17 points and 172 total yards, with 10 of those points and 80 of those yards coming after the Cowboys put in their backups to start the fourth quarter.

RUNNING GAME FINDS ITS LEGS

The Cowboys have been looking for a productive running game, and Sunday it showed up.

Dallas ran the ball 33 times for 168 yards – 5.09 yards per carry, and three touchdowns – one each from running back Rico Dowdle, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

While Tony Pollard carried the load with 15 carries, it was the change of pace from Dowdle that really got the ground attack going.

Pollard finished with 55 yards rushing but didn’t have a catch in the game.

Prescott chipped in with two carries for 17 yards, while Cooper Rush even carried the ball twice for five yards, including gaining a first down on fourth a five scamper with his legs, all in mop up duty.

It is the best day on the ground for Dallas since their Week 3 loss at Arizona, when they rushed for 185 yards on 33 carries.

BIG HUGE GIANT MONSTER Play of the Game

On a second and nine from the Dallas 42, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb set the tone. Lamb ran a go route up the left sideline with Deonte Banks in coverage for the Giants. Quarterback Dak Prescott through a dart to the inside of Lamb, who reached out with his left hand and made a one-handed catch while his right arm was being tugged on by Banks. The Ball stuck perfectly in Lamb’s hand, and he ran out of bounds with a 30-yard gain. There was a flag on the play for pass interference on Banks, but it was declined.

UNSUNG Play of the Game

After a Dak Prescott interception set the Giants offense up deep in Cowboys territory at the Dallas 12, the defense rose to the occasion while leading just 7-0 in the first quarter. After three plays got the Giants down to the Cowboys four, New York head coach Brian Daboll decided to go for it on fourth down. The handoff to Saquon Barkley up the middle was stuffed by Jonathan Hankins and DeMarcus Lawrence for no gain. The Cowboys took over at their own four and scored eight plays later to take a 14-0 lead.