SCORE THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN
Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys are well-known frontrunners. They are an excellent team when playing with a lead. They are not built as well to come back once they fall behind, particularly because it reduces the amount of pass rush opportunities for Micah Parsons and Co. on defense. Daniel Jones and the Giants offense can’t afford to be chasing this game. They have to take control early.
EXPLOIT DALLAS’ RUN DEFENSE
Mike Zimmer’s Cowboys defense has the same problem that Dan Quinn’s Dallas defense did in last year’s blowout home playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers: they can’t stop the run. They’re allowing a league-worst 185.7 rushing yards per game after the Baltimore Ravens went off for an absurd 274 yards on the ground Sunday. The Giants averaged only 2.25 yards per carry on their first 31 carries in Cleveland, though, until Devin Singletary’s 43-yard run to ice the game. They need to move the line of scrimmage like they did Week 2 at Washington to have a chance.
GIVE THE FANS REASON TO BELIEVE
The Giants’ Week 1 loss to Minnesota was a worst-case scenario for the home opener in this franchise’s 100th season. Most fans booed throughout the game. Some called for Tommy DeVito to replace Jones. Lawrence Taylor voiced his disgust to teammates in the tunnel. And a majority of the crowd left midway through the third quarter while Vikings fans chanted “SKOL!” and took over MetLife Stadium. Thursday is a prime time, standalone, nationally televised NFC East rivalry game. It can’t look like that again.
