Giants vs. Cowboys: Preview, prediction, what to watch for in Week 1
An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Cowboys NFL Week 1 matchup at MetLife Stadium:Cowboys WRs George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb vs.Giants CBs Greg Newsome II and Deonte BanksIs this a glaring mismatch? Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.
Pickens is coming off a sensational debut season in Dallas (93 receptions, 1,429 yards, 9 TDs) and Lamb in a “down’’ year had 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three TDs.Newsome, a former first-round pick of the Bears, is making his Giants debut.
That Banks — the Giants’ 2023 first-round pick — beat out Paulson Adebo is great for Banks but an indictment of Adebo.It will be some story if Banks actually resurrects his flailing career.Second time around: Sometimes it almost sounds as if it is some mystical force.
That is how “second-year quarterback’’ anticipation is characterized.Rookie season, begone! A light switch is flicked and the youngster is supposed to be noticeably improved.
Will that be the case with 23-year old Jaxson Dart, a 12-game starter in 2025 as he experiences his first opening day as the No.1 guy?“I mean, I feel like I’m not even the same person at all,’’ he said.
“Obviously, the growth that you make from the experiences that you have from one year to the next.And I just feel like I’ve grown a ton through this offseason.
So, I feel comfortable.I feel like I’m seeing things really well.
And this is going to be a really good test for our team.’’Reversal of fortune: It used to be that the Dallas offensive line was an impenetrable wall that Giants defenders were unable to breach.Perhaps times have changed.
The Cowboys lost Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith to a thumb injury, and although T.J.Bass is a workable replacement but he is not on Smith’s level.
Right tackle Terence Steele allowed an NFL-high 52 pressures last season.Third-year Tyler Guyton won the left tackle job early in training camp.
This...