The Dallas Cowboys whipped the New York Giants twice last season, including a 40-0 demolition in a primetime affair at the Meadowlands.
Dallas (1-2) returns to the scene for another primetime contest against the Giants (1-2) on Thursday night when the two NFC East teams meet at East Rutherford, N.J.
ODDS AND TRENDS
Dallas is a 5.5- to 6.0-point favorite at most sportsbooks. The line is 5.5 at BetRivers, where the Cowboys have been backed with 78 percent of the tickets and 86 percent of the money wagered on the spread line. Meanwhile, the line is 6.0 at DraftKings, where Dallas has also drawn one-sided action with 77 percent of both markets.
The Cowboys have covered the spread in 10 of their past 11 road games coming off a loss.
Dallas’ moneyline has been even more popular, drawing 93 percent of the tickets and money at -265 at BetRivers and 75 and 80 percent, respectively at -258 at DraftKings.
The two books also have slightly different totals for the Over/Under. At BetRivers (45.0 total points), the Over has been backed by 80 percent of the money, while the 45.5-point total at DraftKings has seen the Over draw 64 percent.
PROP PICKS
–Over 45.0 Total Points (-110 at BetRivers): The Cowboys have gone over the total points line in five consecutive games, and their first three games of 2024 have averaged 46.0 total points.
–Giants RB Devin Singletary Over 15.5 Receiving Yards (-130 at DraftKings): The 27-year-old has built solid early chemistry with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Singletary has at least four targets in two of the first three games, and is coming off a four-catch, 43-yard effort against the Browns in Week 3 as he provides a trusted underneath option with rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers drawing increased attention from defenses.
COWBOYS ‘GOT TO GET IT RIGHT’
Dallas hasn’t been so fearsome to start this season. After defeating the Cleveland Browns in the opener, the Cowboys have been routed by the New Orleans Saints and then lost 28-25 in a misleading final score to the visiting Baltimore Ravens last weekend.
The Cowboys scored 19 unanswered fourth-quarter points to make it close, but the comeback didn’t mask the issues.
“We’ve got to get it right,” Dallas star linebacker Micah Parsons said. “You know what I’m saying? This is a winning organization. I’ll uphold that standard, but at the same time, everyone has to uphold the standard. And I think I’m confident in my faith, and I just think we’re being tested right now. I really believe we’re being tested. It has to come together. It’s humbling.”
Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence didn’t like seeing his squad trailing by 22 points at home.
“It doesn’t matter how much willpower you have at the end,” Lawrence said. “If you don’t start good, most likely you’re not gonna finish good, so the outcome is the outcome. Only thing we can do is go and review it and get better from it.”
GIANTS GAINING CONFIDENCE
New York won 21-15 at Cleveland last Sunday for its first victory.
Jones threw for two touchdowns for the second straight game while passing for a season-high 236 yards.
The Giants suddenly have a chance to be .500 after opening with two losses. However, the dreaded Cowboys are back in town. In last season’s other meeting, host Dallas won 49-17.
“Yeah, we don’t like losing to anybody, especially a divisional game,” Jones said. “We understand what this game means, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has passed for an NFL-best 851 yards as well as four touchdowns. He also has been intercepted twice and sacked nine times.
KEY STATS
Dallas’ run game is sagging with Rico Dowdle leading the way with 88 yards and Ezekiel Elliott contributing 62. The Cowboys rank 30th in the NFL with an average of 73.7 rushing yards per game.
Parsons, the fourth-year star, has just 12 tackles and one sack. He had 40.5 sacks over his first three seasons.
New York ranks 29th in scoring offense at 15 points per game. Jones has passed for 600 yards with Nabers (271 yards) accumulating 45 percent of the yardage. Nabers has three touchdown receptions.
“I have confidence in all our guys,” Jones said, “and Malik’s played well, but we’ve got a lot of good receivers.”
SERIES HISTORY
Dallas has won the past six meetings and 13 of the past 14 with New York, with last season’s trouncing of the Giants in the season opener the most one-sided of those contests.
INJURY REPORT
New York cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson and Dru Phillips both will miss the game to due calf injuries. Wide receiver Darius Slayton (thumb) is questionable.
Dallas cornerback Caelen Carson (shoulder) and safety Markquese Bell (ankle) both are listed as doubtful, and McCarthy termed the duo game-time decisions.
THEY SAID IT
–“I’m a person, every game I act like it’s the Super Bowl for me, for myself. But, of course, you do remember. I think everybody will remember home opener being beat like that on primetime TV.” –Giants safety Jason Pinnock on last season’s blowout loss at home to the Cowboys.
–“He has the size and the speed and the body control,” McCarthy said. “I think he’s a very exciting player when the ball’s in the air. That’s what stands out to me.” –Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on Nabers.
PREDICTION
The Cowboys have been pushed around on both sides of the ball the past two weeks, but that shouldn’t be the case against the Giants. Dallas has its proverbial back against the wall early in the season and will play with a heightened sense of urgency on the road against a bitter division rival. –Cowboys 30, Giants 20
