The 125th face-off between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants in Week 4 of the NFL season is gearing up to be a high-stakes encounter. Historically, the Cowboys have dominated this rivalry, holding a 75-47-2 all-time record over the Giants. Dallas has also emerged victorious in the last six meetings between these teams, with the Giants' last win dating back to the 2020-21 season.
Cowboys' Offensive Prowess
The Cowboys’ offense has shown formidable strength, particularly in their recent games against the Giants. Last season, Dallas scored at least 40 points in both of their meetings with New York. Quarterback Dak Prescott has been instrumental in leading this offensive charge. Prescott, with a fresh four-year contract worth $240 million, is coming off a season where he led the league with 36 passing touchdowns and ranked third in passing yards with 4,516. Dallas ended last season with an impressive 12-5 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Prescott's capability goes beyond his passing skills, as he showcased his versatility in the playoffs last season with 403 passing yards, three touchdowns, and an additional 45 rushing yards. His recent performance continues to impress; last week, he recorded 379 passing yards and two touchdowns, in addition to a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Reflecting on Prescott’s dual-threat potential, one expert noted, “Prescott doesn’t often showcase that rushing side anymore, but just the fact he has the potential to scramble and create offense with his legs adds to his NFL DFS value.”
Giants' Emerging Talent
On the other side of the field, the Giants are banking on fresh talent to change their fortunes. They secured their first victory of the season with a 21-15 win over the Browns, thanks to a strong performance from quarterback Daniel Jones, who threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns. A significant contributor to this win was rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who has quickly established himself as a critical player for the Giants.
Nabers, picked sixth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been heavily targeted, receiving 37 targets over the first three weeks of the season—13 more than any other Giants player. He has caught 30 of these targets in the last two games alone, showcasing his reliability and importance to the Giants' passing game. Nabers holds a 37.8% target share and is responsible for 50.7% of all Giants wide receiver targets this season. In the win against Cleveland, he notched eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
Experts are expecting more standout performances from Nabers, especially in the upcoming game against the Cowboys. As one commentator noted, “Nabers will likely receive another huge target share on Thursday, and with the Cowboys allowing 29.7 points per game, ranking 30th in the NFL, to begin the 2024 NFL season, McClure expects another huge performance from the rookie.”
Defensive Challenges
While the Cowboys’ offense has been thrilling, their defense has been a point of concern. They've allowed an average of 29.7 points per game this season, making them the second-worst defensive team in the league. This vulnerability could present opportunities for the Giants, particularly for Jones and Nabers, to exploit and potentially reverse the trend of recent defeats against Dallas.
As the Cowboys and Giants prepare to clash yet again, the stage is set for an intriguing match-up. Dallas will look to extend its dominance, led by Prescott’s potent arm and strategic versatility, while New York will aim to build on its recent success and leverage the promising talent of Nabers. The outcome could have significant implications for both teams' standings in the NFC.