Tag: 2023 Week 1

WATCH: Diggs’ big hit on Saquon leads to Bland Pick-6

The team’s leading interceptors the last two seasons combine for the club’s first defensive score of the season.

The Cowboys are scoring in all types of ways in the first quarter of their opening game. First, a blocked field goal resulted in a return. Next a big offensive drive ended up being stalled but resulting in a short Brandon Aubrey field goal.

On the Giants’ third drive of the game, the defense that has led the NFL in forced turnovers the last two seasons struck again. On a dump off to running back Saquon Barkley, cornerback Trevon Diggs came in from the sideline and delivered a big blow, causing the ball to float in the air. Second-year CB DaRon Bland, who led the club in picks in 2022 with five, secured the ball and raced down the same sideline as Noah Igbinoghene for the team’s second touchdown.

This score gave the Cowboys a 16-0 lead that they held on through the end of the first quarter.

Cowboys-Giants inactives: Tyler Smith, two key secondary members ruled out

The Cowboys are without their starting left guard while New York is missing a key receiver in the season opener at MetLife Stadium.

The Dallas Cowboys begin their 2023 campaign in MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants, and under the lights of Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys will be shorthanded up front.

After concerns that both would be out, left tackle Tyron Smith is active while left guard Tyler Smith is out with a hamstring injury. It’ll be interesting to see how Dallas’ starting left tackle will perform after concern during the week. On defense, safety Donovan Wilson is inactive with the calf injury he suffered during camp. He’s getting closer to a return as the season begins.

For New York, the biggest absence is starting receiver Wan’dale Robinson is out with a knee injury. Both teams have most of their key pieces ready as their seasons kickoff on primetime. Here’s a look at the full list of inactives for Cowboys-Giants Sunday night.

Cowboys Game Day News: Everything to Know About Week 1 vs Giants

A collection of all noteworthy news and analysis pieces leading up to the Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants.

After a long offseason licking wounds from a divisional round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys can finally get back on the horse. Sunday is filled with 13 games across the afternoon, but the real action takes place on Sunday night. The Cowboys have arrived in New York, New Jersey to be exact, to take on the Giants in the first game of the season and the renewal of the division rivalry.

From offensive line injuries to things to know about the opponent, it’s been a healthy week of contest coverage. Missed something? Check out all of the links below and make sure to be up to speed before kickoff.

Daniel Jones may be NFC East’s best running QB, a real danger for Cowboys

Daniel Jones is a more efficient runner than Jalen Hurts, and Dallas will need to corral the threat to earn victory on Sunday night. | From @ReidDHanson

Regular season games serve multiple purposes throughout a season. Obviously, it’s a way to earn wins and subsequently pave a path to the postseason, but it’s also a way to learn and grow for contests down the road. Each opponent offers their own sets of challenges and certain traits can prove to be particularly problematic to some teams. For the Cowboys, this problematic trait is a running QB.

Facing off against New York on Sunday, Dallas will take on one of the NFL’s better rushing QBs. Since entering the league in 2019, Daniel Jones has honed his rushing skills and become a true multi-tooled weapon.

In 2022, Jones found enormous success as a rushing option. His 708 yards on the ground marked a career high for the fourth-year veteran. It took pressure off his arm and added an extra layer to the Giants’ offensive attack.

Facing the Cowboys defense, Jones’ results were a mixed bag. In one game he saw tremendous success. In another game the Cowboys locked him down as a runner. One thing was clear: he was a formidable opponent as run threat.

He wasn’t just a steppingstone for the Cowboys postseason run, but he acted as a prep course for the division’s top dual-threat QB, Jalen Hurts.

Like Jones, Hurts is equal parts arm and legs. His value lies in his ability to do both, and Hurts set an NFL record in rushing attempts last season from the QB position.

This isn’t to say Jones is a Hurts starter pack as a runner either. In fact, Jones has consistently performed far better than Hurts in rushing yards over expected (RYOE), indicating Hurts is more of a volume runner and Jones is a better model of efficiency.

But since the Eagles are the defending NFC champs, most believe the road to the playoffs runs through Philadelphia. If the Cowboys want challenge them for the top spot, they need to do a better job of stopping mobile QBs like Jones (and Hurts).

For as good as Dan Quinn’s defense has been over the years, they’ve often been undisciplined in their handling of QB run options. Zone reads and RPOs (with a QB run option attached) are areas in which Dallas struggles.

Dallas did a fine job of corralling Jones in their Arlington meeting, but in New Jersey it was a different story. Jones ran nine times for 79 yards that day. Not only did he have an 8.8 yard-per-carry average, but his 0.93 EPA/play led all players on both teams. While his passing success rate sat below 50 percent, his rushing success rate was a clean 100 percent.

Jones’ rushing ability will be a challenge for the Cowboys defense on Sunday night. Their discipline will be tested in much the same way Hurts and the Eagles will test them down the road.

It’s not just about this game, it’s about preparing for future games as well. Jones and the Giants are a challenge in themselves and deserve that respect. But at the same time, Jones is a great primer in what is yet to come for the Cowboys defense.

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Gimme Him: Giants DT Dexter Lawrence would be game-wrecker if he was a Cowboy

The Giants’ All-Pro defensive tackle would fit perfectly in Dan Quinn’s defense, making nightmare fuel for the Cowboys’ opposing offenses. | From @cdburnett7

The New York Giants might not have the reputation of a complete team, but there are some terrifying talents on that roster for opponents. Every NFL team consistently looks for ways to improve their roster, but what if they were given the chance to pluck a player from the opposition? Many may assume running back Saquon Barkley tops the list, but Dallas already has a top running back in Tony Pollard.

When deciding what Giant would fit perfect on the Dallas Cowboys roster, it’s a no-brainer. Especially with first-round pick Mazi Smith’s growing pains, defensive tackle is at a premium. Why not add an All-Pro?

Dexter Lawrence was a key contributor for a two-time national champion at Clemson, and that same dominance has translated to the NFL game. After a strong first few seasons, it all clicked for Lawrence in 2022. He earned second-team All-Pro honors with 68 tackles, 7.5 sacks and a whopping 70 pressures according to PFF‘s review.

None of those sacks came against the Cowboys, however Lawrence’s value is similar to the man who shares his surname in Dallas. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence’s value goes as both a pass rusher, and run stopper. It’s no different for Dexter Lawrence, who has 21 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks over his first four seasons.

Lawrence fits a need perfectly with the Cowboys, and it would get rid of the nightmare of having to go against him twice a year to boot. The fifth-year star just inked a deal that extends him through the 2027 season, making him the fifth-highest paid defensive tackle, and that number would probably make Jerry Jones pass out with current contract discussions , but this is all dreaming here.

For Dallas, Johnathan Hankins is the run-stopping anchor in the middle. With Dexter Lawrence flanking him, no one would have a chance rushing against the Cowboys when the alternative is going outside towards Demarcus Lawrence or Micah Parsons.

With all due respect to the ascending talent Osa Odighizuwa, dropping him a level down the depth chart in favor of Dexter Lawrence would be a coop for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. The thought of Dexter Lawrence joining this defense makes him the no-brainer pick of a New York star to steal. That said, Dallas will have their hands full with Lawrence Sunday night, and it’ll be key to watch if the Cowboys can contain him like last season.

How to watch and stream, listen to and wager on Cowboys-Giants Week 1

Here’s all the game info on the opening match for the NFC East rivals, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun. | From @KDDrummondNFL

🎶 You’ve been waiting all year, for Sunday night 🎶 and it’s finally arrived. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants get their 2023 seasons underway on Sunday, but fans of both teams will have to wade through a packed schedule of other contests before they can settle down in front of their televisions and dive into three (and a half) hours of classic NFC East action.

Both Dallas (12-5) and New York (9-7-1) are coming off of playoff appearances and divisional round losses and look to build on that momentum to achieve even greater things this season. Head coach Mike McCarthy enters his fourth season at the helm with a new batch of offensive assistants while Brian Daboll gets a crack at Year 2 in Gotham. Here’s all of the intel necessary to keep track of things during the day and once the action kicks off, along with referee information, betting lines and radio intel along with all of the coverage maps from the full day of action.

Early OL troubles shape Cowboys 55-man roster vs Giants after two elevations

Dallas has brought two players from the practice squad to help them in the fight against Gotham. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are just one day away from their first face off of the 2023 season. The club arrived in Gotham, or at least a close proximity, for their matchup with the New York Giants on Sunday night. The NFC East rivals will once again battle for the first leg up on a young season.

Friday’s injury report and Saturday morning’s walkthrough shapes the club’s elevation for Week 1. Special teamer CJ Goodwin is likely going to be a staple in this role for the first few weeks of the season, as teams can elevate a practice squad player up to three times a season without making him part of the official 53-man roster.

Teams can bring up two players every week before they trim down for game-day actives. The other elevation this week is interior offensive lineman Brock Hoffman.

Quarterbacks (3)
Running Backs (4)
Wideouts (6)
Tight Ends (3)
Offensive Tackles (3)
Offensive Guards (4)
Centers (2)

Defensive Ends (5)
Defensive Tackles (5)
Linebacker (4)
Cornerbacks (6)
Safeties (6)

Special Teams (4)

 

3 ways the Cowboys can survive the potential loss of their LG and LT

If Tyron Smith and Tyler Smith are out for the Cowboys on Sunday, there are certain things they can do to ensure the offense’s survival. | From @ReidDHanson

If someone was to poll Cowboys Nation regarding the biggest concern heading into the 2023 season, most would likely point to the offensive line. The Cowboys have a respectable unit on paper. Many postseason breakdowns even listed the Dallas offensive line as a strength. But a quick peak behind the curtain reveals things are far more volatile looking than what’s front and center.

Depth was a concern at the start of the offseason and depth remains a concern heading into the start of the regular season. The delta between OL5 to OL6 is significant. And each rung deeper down the depth chart the more concerning the replacement piece. With news the Cowboys may not only be forced to go to their bench for one lineman, but possibly two, Cowboys fans are understandably concerned.

On Monday news broke starting LG Tyler Smith strained his hamstring. On Thursday it was revealed starting LT Tyron Smith tweaked his ankle. While neither injury sounds particularly devastating, both players’ status is now in doubt for Week 1.

If one or each is unable to go, how will the Cowboys survive the Giants defensive line. New York’s starting four are considered one of the best in the NFL and sending out a pair of replacement players could spell disaster for Dallas.

Q&A: Cowboys-Giants rivalry ready to take things to the next level

Washington is the forever rival. Philly fans are the most hated. Giants faithful? They’re reminding the world how obnoxious they can be after *checks glasses* a 9-win season. Let’s tussle. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The NFC East is no stranger to dominating the league and in 2022, it once again rose to power in the conference. The division sent three teams to the playoffs, had none under .500 and represented the NFC in the Super Bowl. There’s no domination within the division though, as the last 20 years have seen a new division winner each season.

So if tradition holds, either the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants or Washington Commanders will dethone the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. The Giants won a playoff game, but that was against another team that seems to be much worse than their actual record. Are they ready to take the next step?

We caught up with Giants Wire’s managing editor Dan Benton so he could represent the fanbase in a back and forth of enemy intel exchange. After the customary shots being fired, we got into the current state of each team and what to expect out of Sunday night’s matchup.

Point-Counterpoint: Giant details Cowboys should be ready to react to

Dallas must counter the game plan the New York Giants may have in store for them. From comfortability issues to running defensive countermeasures, SNF will be a chess match. | From @ArmyChiefW3

What has felt like an eternity has finally arrived as the Cowboys will cap off week one when they open their season against the Giants at MetLife Stadium. Dallas is entering 2023 with Super Bowl aspirations and the entire nation will get to see firsthand why those who follow the Cowboys are so optimistic.

The New York Giants, who placed third in the division last season with a 9-7-1 record, are a team on the rise who are looking to beat quarterback Dak Prescott for the first time in their last ten attempts. Although the Giants won their wildcard weekend playoff game on the road against the 13-4 Minnesota Vikings last season, beating a division rival not named Washington has been a problem. The Giants have lost eight out of the last ten contests to the Eagles including a 38-7 divisional round loss to end their 2022 season.

While the Cowboys figure to leave New York with a win on Sunday night, they may need to be prepared to counter a Giant gameplan.