The Dallas Cowboys escaped with a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night, but the win was overshadowed by a scary injury to star linebacker Micah Parsons. Parsons, who is widely considered one of the best defensive players in the NFL, left the game in the fourth quarter with a left ankle/foot injury. He later said that X-rays were negative and he will get an MRI on Friday.
The Giants kept the game close, but were ultimately unable to overcome the Cowboys' strong offensive performance and their ability to hold the Giants to just five field goals. The Cowboys got on the board first with a field goal, but Dallas responded with a Rico Dowdle touchdown, and then CeeDee Lamb scored a long touchdown. The Giants were able to narrow the gap in the second quarter but the Cowboys maintained their lead to head into the locker room up 14-9.
The Giants marched down the field to start the second half, but were stuffed again and forced to kick their fourth field goal of the night. Brandon Aubrey, though, answered right back with a 60-yard bomb of his own to bring Dallas back up five. The G-Men again struggled to get the ball in the end zone, as Greg Joseph knocked down his fifth field goal of the night early in the fourth. Aubrey drilled another one, though, to make it a 20-15 Dallas lead with just under seven minutes to go.
With the Giants trailing by five, they attempted to tie the game with a last-minute drive. They were able to move the ball down the field, but on 4th and 6, Daniel Jones targeted Malik Nabers for the 15th time, but he couldn’t finish his toe-tap, and the Cowboys took over with 3:21 left. Nabers suffered a concussion on the play. Aubrey missed a 51-yarder wide right, giving the Giants one more chance with 28 seconds left and no timeouts left. However, a Jones Hail Mary was intercepted, giving Dallas the victory.
The Cowboys' victory snaps a two-game losing streak, while the Giants have now lost three of their first four games. The Giants will now hit the road to face the Seahawks, while the Cowboys will head to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.
The Cowboys Defense Stepped Up
The Cowboys defense entered the game with a terrible reputation, ranked as the worst in the league in run defense. They had struggled to stop opponents, and they had been giving up big plays. But against the Giants, they came up with a much-improved performance. They held the Giants to 26 yards on 24 carries, and they also limited the Giants to just five field goals.
The Cowboys defense will still have work to do, but their performance against the Giants showed that they are capable of making a turnaround.
The Cowboys Offense Finally Showed Signs of Life
The Cowboys offense has been struggling for the past few weeks, and it looked like they were starting to panic. But against the Giants, the offense finally showed some signs of life. Prescott completed 22 of 27 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while CeeDee Lamb had a big game with 7 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys’ offense still has room for improvement, but their performance against the Giants gave their fans some hope.
Parsons' Injury is a Big Blow to the Cowboys
Parsons is one of the most important players on the Cowboys’ defense, and his absence will be felt. He is a game-changer, and he is capable of making big plays at any moment. The Cowboys are already struggling to stop opposing offenses, so the loss of Parsons is a big blow.
The Cowboys have to hope that Parsons’ injury is not serious, and that he will be able to return to the field soon. If they want to make a run at the playoffs, they need him to be healthy.
The Giants Showed Some Fight
The Giants came into the game as underdogs, but they showed that they are not ready to roll over. They played hard, and they made the Cowboys work for their win. The Giants' defense was able to keep the Cowboys offense in check for much of the game, and the Giants' offense was able to move the ball down the field. But the Giants' inability to score touchdowns was ultimately their downfall.
What’s Next?
Despite the loss and the Parsons injury, the Cowboys' season is far from over. The Cowboys will need to regroup and focus on improving their defense. The Giants have shown signs of improvement, but they need to find a way to score more points. The Cowboys have to hope that Parsons’ injury is not serious, and that he will be able to return to the field soon. If they want to make a run at the playoffs, they need him to be healthy.
The rivalry between the Cowboys and the Giants is one of the oldest and most storied in the NFL. And now it's more intense than ever.
