The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season has been a tumultuous journey filled with significant wins and disappointing losses. As of now, the Cowboys' record stands at an even 2-2, after a clutch victory against the New York Giants on "Thursday Night Football." This crucial win came after suffering consecutive home defeats to the New Orleans Saints (44-19) and the Baltimore Ravens (28-25) in the first three weeks.
Prescott's Prowess Against the Giants
Quarterback Dak Prescott has notably continued his dominance over the Giants, securing his 13th consecutive win against the team. This remarkable streak ties the second-longest winning streak by a quarterback against a single opponent since at least 1950. During the recent game, Prescott delivered an impressive performance, throwing for 221 yards and completing 22 of his 21 passes. His precision was evident as he connected with running back Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard touchdown and followed it up with a spectacular 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Kicking Game Highlights and Misses
Brandon Aubrey also had his moments in the spotlight, successfully making field goals from 60 and 40 yards. However, he missed a 51-yard attempt, ending his perfect streak from 50-plus yards. Despite this miss, Aubrey's record remains impressive, having made 16 out of 17 attempts from 50-plus yards, holding the longest consecutive streak of such field goals in NFL history.
Defensive Struggles and Resilience
On the defensive end, the Cowboys had a stark contrast between their performance in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens and their recent game against the Giants. The defense allowed a staggering 274 rushing yards against the Ravens but significantly tightened up, allowing only 26 rushing yards on 24 carries against the Giants. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith played a crucial role in stifling the Giants' run game.
However, the Cowboys’ defense faced injury setbacks during the Giants' game. Both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence sustained injuries in the second half. While Lawrence's foot injury sidelined him after the third quarter, Parsons received some hopeful news with negative X-ray results. Despite these injuries, Parsons remains optimistic, stating, "I'll be good." Lawrence emphasized the need for accountability, saying, "Be credible, f---ing accountable every single play," and implored the team to "Get out of playing little league football." Parsons echoed the sentiment, "We don't need any Supermans at all. We just need 11 guys playing together. Right now, it's just not in unison."
Key Defensive Plays
Defensive back Amani Oruwariye sealed the victory against the Giants by intercepting a pass with just 15 seconds left on the clock. However, the Cowboys’ secondary also faces injury concerns with DaRon Bland dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and Caelen Carson suffering from a shoulder injury.
Offensive Challenges
Offensively, the Cowboys have struggled in the running game, averaging just 75.3 rushing yards per game, positioning them third-worst in the NFL this season. Additionally, their average of 3.5 yards per carry ranks fourth-worst in the league. Highlighting their struggle for substantial gains on the ground, CeeDee Lamb’s 12-yard rush remains the longest of the season for the team.
Upcoming Matchups
Looking forward, the Cowboys aim to build on their recent victory as they prepare for upcoming matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions. With injuries and performance inconsistencies to address, the Cowboys will need to channel their resilience and team unity to continue competing in this roller-coaster season.