The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are gearing up for a highly anticipated Week 4 clash, marking their 125th meeting in the long-standing rivalry. For fans, the stakes could not be higher as both teams aim to solidify their standings early in the season.
Historical Edge and Recent Dominance
The Cowboys hold a significant edge in the all-time series with a 75-47-2 record against the Giants. Compounding the Giants' woes, Dallas has emerged victorious in the last six encounters. The last time New York tasted victory over Dallas was during the 2020-21 NFL season, making their upcoming game a potential breakthrough moment.
Offensive Powerhouse in Dallas
Central to the Cowboys' success is quarterback Dak Prescott, who has consistently proven to be a force to reckon with. Prescott's new four-year contract, valued at $240 million, underscores his importance to the team. His performance last season was nothing short of stellar, as he led the league in passing touchdowns with 36 and finished third in passing yards, totaling 4,516.
In the playoff run last season, Prescott threw for 403 yards and three touchdowns and added 45 rushing yards for good measure. Despite a less frequent reliance on his rushing abilities, Prescott showcased his versatility by scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown last week, along with 379 passing yards and two touchdowns. "Prescott doesn't often showcase that rushing side anymore, but just the fact he has the potential to scramble and create offense with his legs adds to his NFL DFS value," highlights Prescott's multifaceted skill set.
Dallas' high-scoring offense was evident last season when they put up at least 40 points in both of their games against the Giants. Coming off a 12-5 record and securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, the Cowboys look poised to continue their offensive onslaught.
A Star is Born in New York
On the other side, the Giants are pinning their hopes on a mix of veteran presence and new talent. Quarterback Daniel Jones recently led the team to their first win of the season against the Browns with a robust performance, throwing for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
However, the real excitement surrounds rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Nabers has quickly become a focal point of the Giants' offense, leading the team with 37 targets over the first three weeks—13 more than any other player on the squad. His reliability is becoming evident as he caught 30 of these targets over the last two games alone.
Nabers' target share of 37.8% has been responsible for 50.7% of all New York wide receiver targets this season. In their victorious game against Cleveland, Nabers notched eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns. "Nabers will likely receive another huge target share on Thursday, and with the Cowboys allowing 29.7 points per game, ranking 30th in the NFL, to begin the 2024 NFL season, McClure expects another huge performance from the rookie,” suggests a promising outlook for Nabers in the upcoming showdown.
Defensive Struggles
An area of concern for the Cowboys is their defense, which is allowing 29.7 points per game, making them the second-worst in the league. This vulnerability could be a chink in Dallas' armor that the Giants will look to exploit, especially with Nabers' dynamic presence on the field.
As fans and analysts alike look forward to this classic NFC East matchup, the game promises to be a high-octane affair. With both teams having much to prove and early-season momentum on the line, the encounter between the Cowboys and the Giants is set to be a must-watch spectacle.