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Dallas Cowboys: Review of Victory Over the New York Giants

By Brady Lunt

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 26: Jason Witten
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 26: Jason Witten /
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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Eli Manning (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Eli Manning (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Pass Rush Wasn’t Dominant, but Still Productive

Coming into the game, questions surrounded the Dallas defense, including a mediocre pass rush from last season. While they certainly weren’t dominant, they were productive and had Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning on his heels all night.

DeMarcus Lawrence finished the night with two sacks, while Charles Tapper pitched in a third. Benson Mayowa had a fourth before it was voided by an offensive penalty. The Cowboys gave the Giants’ offensive line problems all night and showed a lot of promise. Lawrence figures to be a breakout player this season and had a hot start. Maliek Collins and Stephen Paea did a nice job inside to help free up guys on the edge. Overall, a solid performance by this defensive line, including the job they did against the run.

New Look Secondary Wasn’t Weak

Eli Manning may not be the same quarterback he once was, but he’s an established vet who has built a strong reputation throughout his career. He finished the night with 220 yards and one interception, although it’s important to note he had 180 yards until the final drive. It was a solid performance by a young and fresh secondary.

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    • Granted, Odell Beckham Jr. was on the sideline, and that plays a factor. But with Sterling Shepard, Brandon Marshall, and rookie Evan Engram, the Giants’ had their fair share of replacements.

    It will take time for this unit to continue building together, but it was a solid start for a unit that seemed destined for failure when four starters departed in free agency. Another note, Anthony Brown secured his first interception of the season, second of his young career.

    Jason Witten Becomes Cowboys’ All-Time Receiving Yards Leader

    Jason Witten has become one of the greatest Cowboys’ players of all-time and his legacy was only further cemented during his week one performance. Witten became the Cowboys’ leader in all-time receiving yards, passing Michael Irvin. He finished the game with seven catches for 59 yards. During his career, he has compiled 1,096 receptions for 11,947 yards.

    There’s no doubt Witten his head for the Hall of Fame, but his performance showed he was still a reliable target that seems ready to play for more than just one more season.

    Cowboys Offense Outperformed the Giants’ Defense

    The Cowboys put up nearly 400 yards of total offense on their way to a 19-3 victory. Ezekiel Elliott finished the game with yet another 100-yard performance, 104 yards on 24 carries. There seems to be no change in his usage, despite the ongoing legal issues surrounding him. Dak Prescott finished with 268 passing yards and spread the ball all over the field.

    It wasn’t a high-scoring affair. However, it was a solid performance that pushed them to a win.

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