NFL
By: Greg Rector
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants Sunday 8:20 PM NBC
Dallas Cowboys’ Offense versus the Giants’ Defense
The Dallas Cowboys and their new “Texas Coast Offense” take to the field for the first time in the 2023 NFL season. Since we didn’t see many of the starters play a down in the pre-season this will be interesting to see.
Can Dak Prescott not make the same mistakes with turnovers as he had in the 2022 NFL season? My answer is YES!! Prescott has been solid and if the practices come true in the first game of the 2023 NFL season Prescott will lead the Dallas Cowboys to another victory over the New York Giants. I’m anxious to see this group take the field.
Brandin Cooks is the new number two receiver and if he does what he’s done everywhere he has played then Ceedee Lamb will have even more solid games as the number one wide receiver. Can Tony Pollard become a true number-one running back? How many snaps will Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle get? How do the Cowboys attack the Giants defense?
I believe they will use their tried and true effort of running the football as their primary goal. However when Dak Prescott has to pass the football he has plenty of targets and they will need to be on guard against this New York Giants defense. I expect the Dallas Cowboys to attack rookie cornerback Deonte Banks who will be facing Ceedee Lamb.
The New York Giants must be better at finding a way to stop the Cowboys’ offense. They ranked 22nd last season and Kayvon Thibodeaux along with Azeez Olujari must become more disruptive for the Giants. If the two linebackers don’t have good nights it’s going to be a long night for the host team.
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is set as well with Tyron Smith (Please stay healthy) at left tackle Tyler Smith at left guard Tyler Biadiasz at center Zach Martin at right guard and Terence Steele at RT. This group will be asked to use different techniques than under the last offensive line coach as the new coach Mike Solari often uses multiple sets and I for one am glad to see that happen.
Dallas Cowboys Defense versus the New York Giants Offense
Daniel Jones turned into a very decent quarterback for the Giants last season. However, he gets to face a Dan Quinn defense that he’s nothing but trouble with for the first two seasons, and entering his third season as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Mr. Quinn has some new toys to play with.
Up first is Stephon Gilmore playing the opposite corner to Trevon Diggs so the Giants’ young wide receivers are going to face a much tougher task than they would like in their first game of the 2023 NFL season.
Oh and after decades of waiting the Dallas Cowboys drafted a real DT in Mazi Smith who yes is a rookie but he has done an outstanding job in the pre-season games in taking on two or three offensive linemen. This means Saquon Barkley won’t have huge holes up the middle to run on and he will also have Damone Clarke and Leighton Vander Esche to deal with coming straight at him.
Then there’s this guy named Micah Parsons who is possessed with getting the Dallas Cowboys back to a Super Bowl game after no such luck for 28 seasons. Parsons wants to lead this Cowboys defense and he makes no bones about it.
This group has had success against the New York Giants and I expect them to lead the way in week one of the season.
Tight end Darren Waller is a threat and the Dallas Cowboys know it. Look for the safeties such as Jayron Kearse Donovan Wilson and Markqise Bell to all take turns dealing with the big tight end.
My Prediction
I have the Dallas Cowboys beating the New York Giants by a score of 34 to 21 to open the 2023 NFL season. Again I’m interested in seeing the new offense but I feel the Cowboys’ defense will be a monster to deal with for Daniel Jones and the Giants.
As always you can find me on X @GregCowboys
