Broadway Beatdown
If the version of the Dallas Cowboys defense that showed up on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is what opponents can expect, then it could be a fun season for the fans of America’s Team.
In a consistent downpour, the Cowboys sacked Daniel Jones seven times on the way to a 40-0 win over the New York Giants, as Dallas dominated in all three phases of the game – offense, defense and special teams. Here are five takeaways from the opening season win for Dallas.
COWBOYS DOMINATE IN ALL PHASES
The Cowboys got touchdowns from special teams, defense and the offense, in that order, all in the first half of their domination of the New York Giants.
After it looked like the Giants would take the early lead on the opening drive, the Cowboys would be the ones to come up big when Juanyeh Thomas jumped through the o-line and blocked a Graham Gano field goal attempt. Noah Igbinoghene, whom the Cowboys just picked up in a trade with Miami last week, scooped up the block and returned it 58 yards for the first TD of the season.
Dallas followed it up with a DaRon Bland interception that he returned 22 yards for a touchdown and the Cowboys had a quick 16-0 lead.
It was the first time in Cowboys history that the opening two touchdowns of the season came from the special teams and the defense. It’s also the first time it has been done in the NFL since Minnesota did it in 2016.
Tony Pollard’s touchdown run in the second quarter rounded out the ass kicking the team delivered in the first 30 minutes.
Final stats for Sunday night’s game aren’t as lopsided as you might think. Dallas finished with a mere 265 total yards, while its defense held New York to a pedestrian 171 total yards.
DEFENSE DOMINATES ON BROADWAY
If this is the defense fans can expect to see the rest of the season, then they are in for a treat. The Cowboys looked elite from the first snap of the game. Yes, the Giants were able to drive into field goal range on the opening possession, but you could clearly see the Cowboys speed on defense.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn made some quick adjustments to the running of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley and the was enough to shut down New York.
Dallas held the Giants to 81 yards of total offense in the first half. Daniel Jones, who signed a big contract in the offseason, spent most of the game running for his life.
He did finish with 43 yards rushing and 104 yards passing, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
The Cowboys defense finished with 10 splash plays in the victory, that included interceptions from Bland and Stephon Gilmore, sacks from Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorrance Armstrong, Chauncey Gholston and Osa Odighizuwa and a fumble forced by Trevon Diggs that Israel Mukuamu recovered for the Giants third and final turnover of the game.
PRESCOTT JUST AVERAGE
Most of the offseason conversation was spent around the interceptions that plagued Dak Prescott last season. It brought offensive changes in what they are running and who is calling the plays.
And while Prescott didn’t throw an interception for the first time in seven regular season games, going back to Week 12 of last season, he wasn’t very sharp for most of the night.
Good thing the Cowboys got out to a big lead early in the first quarter thanks to its defense and special teams. Prescott didn’t have to carry the team. And when he doesn’t have to be the savior, he is efficient in running the offense.
Prescott, who improves to 11-2 all time against the Giants in his career, spread the ball to seven different receivers and finished with 143 yards passing, while completing just 13 of 24 passes. It wasn’t flashy, but it didn’t need to be.
O-LINE HOLDS GIANTS D IN CHECK
The Cowboys were without starting left guard Tyler Smith, and they didn’t miss a beat with backup Chuma Edoga. That is until Edoga, a fifth-year veteran, got poked in the eye midway through the third quarter and was replaced by undrafted rookie T.J. Bass for a couple of plays.
Smith, who started all 17 games last season and played 1,141 snaps, tweaked a hamstring, was ruled out and that elevated Edoga.
Edoga, and then Bass, did just fine, committing no penalties.
The duo, who spent the night sandwiched between future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadsz, helped them roll up 116 yards on the ground. They also didn’t allow the Giants a sack in the 40-point win.
AUBREY SOLID AFTER SHAKEY START
Probably the biggest question mark coming into the season opener was at kicker, and Brandon Aubrey didn’t do a lot to squash those concerns.
With the Cowboys feeling good after blocking a Giants field goal attempt and returning it for a touchdown, Aubrey came out and promptly missed the first extra-point attempt of his career. He shanked it left and it wasn’t even close.
But he did settle the nerves and knocked through his second kick attempt, a 21-yard field goal. He followed that up by making a 38-yard field goal and his four other PAT chances.
All eight of his kick offs were touchbacks.