Photo credit Andre Odums/Ossports
It was a light day at the office for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense. Blame Dallas’ defense for an offense responsible for only racking up 265 yards.
The Cowboys’ defense picked up where it left off last season, impressive and finishing second behind the San Francisco 49ners. Still, no one expected the home team Giants to be shut out by its division rival. Dallas held the Giants to 171 total yards.
Cowboys’ defensive back Juanyeh Thomas blocked Graham Gano’s 45-yard field goal attempt, while cornerback Noah Igbinoghene scooped the loose ball and raced 59 yards for a touchdown with 8:03 left in the first quarter. In an effort to add the extra point, new kicker Brandon Aubrey’s kick sailed wide left, but it didn’t matter.
On Sunday night, the Cowboys routed the New York Giants, 40-0, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The defense played well, sacking Jones seven times while forcing three turnovers in Dallas’ most significant deficit against the Giants since 1995 (35-0).
Daniel Jones got the Giants off to a promising start in the first quarter at its 30. Jones slid after an 8-yard pickup, but officials tacked on 15 additional yards after Dallas safety Jayron Kearse took a headshot at Jones, resulting in a first down at the Dallas 47. Barkley added a nine-yard run, and Jones scrambled 12 yards to the 13 before John Michael Schmitz’s low snap resulted in a 14-yard loss at the 28.
Good fate continued for Dallas, as Pollard’s two-yard scoring run and Brandon Aubrey’s two field goals sent the Cowboys to intermission leading 26-0.
As for Jones and the Giants’ offense, facing one of the top defensive units in the league, self-inflicted mistakes played a considerable role in its downfall.