Under constant pressure, the New York quarterback suffers his first defeat of the season.
New York Giants (2-1) – Dallas Cowboys (2-1): 16-23
He ran as soon as he could (9 attempts for 79 yards), Daniel Jones had a very complicated evening in his pocket during this Monday Night Football (20/37, 196 yards and 1 TD). Blame it on a Dallas team that didn’t release the pressure from start to finish this game (and on its offensive line too). 5 sacks, 12 QB hits and a total of 24 pressures which allowed the visitors to go for a deserved victory in the Big Apple.
Without being exceptional, the Cowboys were serious defensively before trusting Cooper Rush (21/31, 215 yards and 1 TD) to accelerate at the right time. The quarterback, discreet in this meeting, was able to raise his level of play when necessary. While his team had just lost the advantage (13-6) in the third quarter, he managed 12 of 13 completed passes for 129 yards. Result, two touchdowns in two drives and a definite advantage for Dallas. And even if those touchdowns were slow to arrive, we can say that Dallas handled this part well.
CEEDEE LAMB ONE-HANDED FOR THE LEAD 😱 @_CeeDeeThree
📺: #DALvsNYG on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/D62zaILv7u pic.twitter.com/p8ZJTYNkyv— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2022
An ubiquitous pass-rush
At the start of the match, it is the ground game of the Texas players that is honoured. Tony Pollard (13 races for 105 yards) and Ezekiel Elliott (15 races, for 73 yards and 1 TD) feast on the gaps left in this defense and begin undermining work that will pay off later. The problem is that Dallas can’t make it happen. Approaching the end zone, when the field tightens, the Cowboys can’t find the solution and have to settle for kicks. Two in total in the first period. The good news is that the defense is holding up.
The Giants also do not score a touchdown in the first 40 minutes. Only two field goals that leave the two teams back to back in the middle of the third quarter (6-6). The fault has a Dallas defense well in place. Demarcus Lawrence gives his direct opponent a nightmare with 3 sacks, while Micah Parsons, not very present on the stat sheet (1 tackle and 2 QB Hits), undermines this offensive line, regardless of his starting position. Paradoxically, despite this grip which tightens more and more on the attack of the Giants, it is New York which finds the solution first. A very nice 36-yard touchdown from a Saquon Barkley (14 races, 81 yards and 1 TD + 4 receptions and 45 yards) who struggled throughout the game (13-6).
An incredible reception
A short-lived advantage therefore with this great reaction from the Dallas attack and two touchdowns straddling the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. The first ended with a run from Ezekiel Elliott (13-13). The second, magnificent, comes after an incredible one-handed reception from CeeDee Lamb in the end-zone (13-20). An 11-play drive for 89 yards that allows the Cowboys to give the Cowboys a definite advantage. Trevon Diggs will stand out late in the game with an interception to send everyone home.
With this success, Mike McCarthy’s men are not losing ground on Philadelphia (3-0) before a new division match next week against the Commanders. For the Giants, it’s the first loss of the season. Brian Daboll and Daniel Jones have not been able to find the solution to get out of this pressure and are forced to bow to a direct rival in this NFC East. They will have the opportunity to catch up next Sunday with a meeting that will still be well within their reach against the Bears.
