Dak’s Cowboys Storm the Meadowlands: Playoff Hype Meets Harbaugh’s Giants Debut
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Dallas Cowboys have talked enough. Now Dak Prescott and Co. get to back it up under the Sunday night lights.
Dallas opens its playoff-expectation season against NFC East rival New York Giants at the Meadowlands, and the vibes? Prescott says they’re good. Real good. The Cowboys missed the postseason the last two years. They’re done watching from the couch.
“Obviously it’s a new coaching staff over there and new personnel right on defense and just different spots,” Prescott said. “It’s about us. It’s about our focus. It’s about the team that we’ve built this whole offseason and the work that we’ve put in throughout training camp and this week, as well. Excited for that opportunity.”
For the Giants, this is the John Harbaugh era, and the debut comes in prime time. Not quite postseason-or-bust expectations in New York, but Harbaugh’s arrival mixed with receiver Malik Nabers’ anticipated return from injury and Odell Beckham Jr.’s latest NFL chapter could turn the Meadowlands into a pressure cooker.
“I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Giants starting quarterback Jaxson Dart said. “I’ve just been waiting for this. I think this is just the coolest stage, the coolest opportunity.”
Dart will stare down a Dallas defense that got a facelift after surrendering the most points in the league last season. Rookie safety Caleb Downs, edge rusher Rashan Gary and Von Miller are the new muscle. The Giants, statistically the fourth-worst unit in the NFL last season, are hoping their own reset holds up.
Nabers is nearly a year removed from a torn ACL. He looks on track to play, but neither he nor Harbaugh will say whether the 23-year-old will be in uniform.
Dallas will be without starting left guard Tyler Smith, who is expected to miss a month with a thumb injury. T.J. Bass steps in.
“T.J.’s a true pro,” Prescott said. “When you’ve got a guy like T.J., you don’t even flinch.”
Need to know
Dallas (7-9-1) at N.Y. Giants (4-13)
When/where: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT, NBC
Latest odds: Cowboys by 3
Last meeting: Giants beat the Cowboys 34-17 on Jan. 4 at the Meadowlands.
Series: Cowboys lead 78-48-2.
Matchup to watch
Cowboys receiver George Pickens vs. Giants cornerback Greg Newsome. These two have history from Pickens’ Pittsburgh days and Newsome’s Cleveland days, and there is no love lost. On the other side, CeeDee Lamb against Deonte Banks or Paulson Adebo could be an advantage for Dallas.
Stats and stuff
— Prescott led the NFL with 404 completions and ranked third with 4,552 yards passing and fourth with 30 TD throws last season. He has thrown for more than 250 yards in five consecutive night games.
— Cowboys RB Javonte Williams set career highs last season with 1,338 yards from scrimmage and 11 rushing TDs.
— Lamb and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson are the only players with 550-plus catches and 7,000-plus yards receiving in their first six seasons.
— Miller’s 138 1/2 sacks are the most among active players.
— Downs was the 11th pick in the draft after the Giants selected Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese fifth.
— Dart led all rookies with 24 touchdowns last season. That includes nine rushing, the second most in the Super Bowl era behind Cam Newton’s 14 in 2011.
— Cam Skattebo is expected to start at running back for the Giants after missing the final nine games of his rookie year after breaking his right fibula in October.
— TE Isaiah Likely is one of four players set to make their Giants debut after following Harbaugh from Baltimore. FB Patrick Ricard, S Ar’Darius Washington and P Jordan Stout are the others.
— Giants LB Brian Burns had a career-best 16 1/2 sacks last season, second in the league behind record-setter Myles Garrett.
Bottom line: Dallas wants to prove the hype is real. New York wants to spoil the party in Harbaugh’s first act. Sunday night at the Meadowlands, something has to give.