Via ESPN.com
The New York Giants will look to begin their season 3-0 for the first time since 2009. It will not be easy as they will be going up against their fellow NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys who have beaten New York nine of their last 10 matchups dating back to 2017. Even though Cooper Rush will still remain under center for the Cowboys, they did pull off an impressive victory over the defending AFC champion, Cincinnati Bengals so they will for sure give the Giants a challenge. With some many storylines and drama heading into this Monday Night Football matchup, here are the three keys for the Giants to come out on top and get another big win.
3. Get Kenny Golladay going:
The Giants $70 million wideout has been non-existent for the G-Men this year and ever since he got to New York overall. He only had two catches in week one at Tennessee and no targets against the Panthers last week in his very limited playing time. Golladay voiced his desire to play more and how he thinks he can contribute to this Giants offense and head coach Brian Daboll still insists his offensive game plan is working. With the news that surfaced this past week that second round pick from this past year’s draft Wan’Dale Robinson will miss a second straight week due to injury and now last year’s first round pick Kadrious Toney now questionable with a hamstring, this can be a great opportunity for Golladay to get more snaps.
After all, Golladay said that this past week’s practice was one of his best since he’s been with big blue! Even though Golladay has pretty much been a non-factor for the Giants offense since he’s arrived, he can still be an elite receiver. He had back to back 1,000 yard seasons and one season with over 10 touchdown receptions. Get him going, he could be a huge x-factor for the Giants in this matchup.
2. Get the offense going:
Despite all the injuries on the offensive side of the ball for the Cowboys, they still have an elite defense and a defense that helped prevent the Cowboys from starting their year 0-2. The Giants offense hasn’t been bad, but it hasn’t been great. It will be very important for the Giants offense to get on a roll and get all their skill position players going. They have only scored a combined 40 points and it won’t be easy going up against a great defense like this one.
Daniel Jones also has to take care of the football with Dallas having an elite secondary. Jones should also try to throw some more balls deep downfield. We have only really seen him throw short throws and checkdowns. And more importantly, feed Saquon the football. It will take so much more pressure off Daniel Jones and Barkley looks very impressive right now, you want to keep him fresh.
1. Get Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari involved
The Giants will finally get their first round pick, linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux back for his NFL debut and another elite linebacker, Azeez Ojulari. New York has a lot of high expectations for Thibodeaux to make an immediate impact for the Giants defense and Ojulari will look to build on his eight sack season performance he had last year. With the Giants defense looking pretty good this year without the two linebackers under first year defensive coordinator Don Martindale being one of the best third down defenses, it will be important to get those two going against a Dallas team that is expected to get wideout Michael Gallup back to go with star receiver CeeDee Lamb.
