The Dallas Cowboys, seeking to rebound from a Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, face a pivotal home opener against the New York Giants. While the Cowboys boast an eight-game winning streak against their rivals, this matchup presents unique challenges. The Giants' formidable defensive line, featuring a quartet of first-round draft picks – Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter – poses a significant threat to Dallas' young offensive line.
Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler, anchors the interior, while the explosive Burns, Thibodeaux, and Carter dominate the edges. This formidable front seven combined for seven quarterback pressures and three sacks in their Week 1 victory. Containing this defensive force will be paramount for the Cowboys' offensive success, necessitating both strong run blocking to neutralize Lawrence and effective pass protection to shield Dak Prescott from the relentless pass rush. The Cowboys' offensive game plan must account for the Giants' tendency to utilize zone coverage, demanding precise route running and quick decision-making from Prescott to exploit any gaps.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys' defense faces its own strategic battle against Giants quarterback Russell Wilson. The strategy revolves around generating coverage sacks, forcing Wilson into uncomfortable situations by limiting his time in the pocket. The defensive backs will need to play tightly and aggressively, discouraging deep throws and potentially forcing turnovers. Adding pressure from the defensive line will further limit Wilson's efficiency, especially given his struggles in Week 1 when facing pressure. Limiting Wilson's passing yards and forcing him into mistakes will be key to a Cowboys victory. The Cowboys’ ability to execute these strategies on both sides of the ball will be the deciding factor in this crucial NFC East matchup.
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Originally published at: https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/here-we-goooo-cowboys-young-ol-needs-to-hold-up-vs-giants
