Week 2 Recap: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

By Archie Nino III

Talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Dallas Cowboys offense seemingly woke up and responded to the challenge laid out by Giants safety Landon Collins. After the previous week of media scrutiny led to questions about play calling, and Dak Prescotts ability to stand and deliver from the pocket the Cowboys offense got out the gates early.

In a game that featured a TD strike early quickly developed into a defensive chess match. Cowboys offensive coordinator and play caller Scott Linehan sprinkled in some magic and let Dak run some "run-pass options" and created mismatches in the game. Did it pay off? Well two passes into the game Dak Prescott uncorked a 64yd bomb to veteran speedster Tavon Austin for the games first TD. Dak Prescott finished the night with a respectable stat line posting numbers of 16-25 160yds and 1 touchdown. Prescott would have had a second throwing score but he sailed a ball out the back of the end zone missing a wide open Rico Gathers. Prescott threw two early passes for 76yds but then went 14-23 for only 80yds. The offensive line in Dallas had a tremendous bounce back game and kept Dak clean in the pocket allowing time to make plays and keep the clock winding.  Ezekiel Elliott as well had himself a day with another TD and finishing with 17 carries for 78yds. However even in a win there were some rough patches, 9 out of the last 12 games Qb Dak Prescott has failed to reach 200 pass yds. In a time in the NFL when passing the ball is key, Dak struggles albeit some could come from his absence during the preseason. He and Linehan will go back in the lab and try to create some more magic next week where the Cowboys travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. 

Defensively the Dallas Cowboys front 7 harassed Eli Manning at will. Keeping him and the explosive New York Giants offense in check virtually all game Eli Manning finished with a respectable stat line of 33/44 for 279yds and 1 TD. The 2nd overall pick in the draft Saquon Barkley had a rough out netting only 28 rush yards, however he did catch 14 passes for 80yds. Odell Beckham Jr was locked down by Chidobe Awuize and the Cowboys pass rush and finished his day with a pedestrian stat line of 4rec 50yds and 0tds. The Cowboys defensive line crashed the Giants OL and got to Manning all game long sacking him 6 times by 6 different players, Taco Charlton, Antwaun Woods, Kavon Frazier,  DeMarcus Lawrence, Damien Wilson, and Tyrone Crawford. Who can forget the hit stick Jaylon Smith laid on Eli, as Manning tried scrambling and forgot to slide before impact. When in the locker room Smith was met by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and had two simple words for him "I'm back" in reference to his injured knee from college. Kicker Brett Maher came in as well and did his job well considering how poorly kicking was throughout the NFL on Sunday. Sean Lee was pulled late in the game as a precautionary measure but it will be worth monitoring given his injury history. 

It was good to get a victory on the board and make the season 1-1 on the year. With the signing of former Cowboys WR Brice Butler back in the mix, look for the Cowboys to blend it together and after more reps hopefully the offense continues making strides. For all it's worth the only NFC East team to win this week was the Dallas Cowboys, Eagles fell victim to Tampa Bay, Washington looked simplistic vs the Colts, and the Giants got served by the Hot Boyz, although its early the Dallas Cowboys have sole possession of 1st place in the East. Let's keep it rolling. Til next time #CowboysNation.