The New York Giants’ offense failed to make the trip to Arlington, their no-show dooming New York to another 0-2 start.
Going through a two-game Texas trip, the New York Giants might want to remember to pack some offense for their next game.
The unit picked up just 255 yards, while Eli Manning was sacked six times, and the Giants fell to 0-2 to the tune of a 20-13 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. That score only looks closer thanks to some late scoring when the game was out of hand.
The Giants defense had a dubious primetime debut, as Dak Prescott took Landon Collins’ challenge, issued earlier this week, to heart, on just the third play from scrimmage. A 64-yard strike to Tavon Austin, who got past his former Rams teammate Janoris Jenkins for a deep touchdown to open the game, his first score in a Cowboys uniform.
Dak Prescott DEEP to Tavon Austin for 64 yards and 6 points!
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/TfyuCUXZNE
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 17, 2018
The defense did manage to keep pace with the Cowboys offense reeling from a no-show during opening weekend in Carolina for the remainder of the first half. The Cowboys did post 187 yards in the half, but only 48 more after an eight-play, 64-yard drive that concluded with Brett Maher’s first career NFL field goal, creating a 10-0 lead from 37 yards out.
Offensively, the Giants failed to run a single play in Dallas territory, as Eli Manning fell victim to four first-half sacks, each by a different defender.
Taco Charlton celebrates a sack by dishing out some tacos ? pic.twitter.com/1m3GjYpfvA
— Andrew Ites (@PFF_Andrew) September 17, 2018
The Giants got the ball to open the second half, but disaster continued to permeate. On the opening possession, a sack by Damian Wilson pried the ball away from Manning, and the Cowboys took over deep in New York territory.
FUMBLE!!!@dallascowboys ball!
?: @snfonnbc #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/sjoV9FEerI
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2018
The Giants did manage to hold strong, limiting the Cowboys to another Maher field goal to keep it a two-score game. On the ensuing drive, the Giants were able to tally a field goal, finally breaking into Dallas territory on a 37-yard hookup between Manning and Cody Latimer. A penalty prevented the Giants from getting closer to the end zone, but Aldrick Rosas connected from 28 yards out.
https://twitter.com/itsevandaniel/status/1041510181342007296
Unfortunately, that turned out to be the most meaningful offensive action the Giants could generate. They followed up the field goal drive with more defensive strength, but once they got the ball back, the sacks recommenced, with Tyrone Crawford getting in on the fun.
??'s own Tyrone Crawford with the big sack!#NYGvsDAL pic.twitter.com/lTk4xJckmk
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) September 17, 2018
In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys snuffed out any hope of a Giants comeback with a 14-play, 82-yard drive that ate more than eight minutes off the clock, capped off by a six-yard run by Ezekiel Elliott that ended Dallas scoring.
Feed ZEKE! ? @ezekielelliott
?: @snfonnbc #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/r9o5YyzLSV
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2018
With the outcome all but decided, the Giants did manage to tally a touchdown, Manning finding Evan Engram wide open for an 18-yard score. They managed to recover an onside kick, and added another Rosas field goal, this one from 38 yards out. Another onside kick went for naught, however, and the game ended with a 20-13 margin.
.@EvanEngram was wide open for SIX!
?: @snfonnbc #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/nW6eoSaNYU
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2018
The increasingly desperate Giants will square off with another 0-2 team next week, going up against the equally winless Houston Texans on the road next Sunday (1:00 p.m. ET, Fox).
