EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Following an offseason of going up in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive position in follow, Dak Prescott was very happy to see the vaunted entrance terrorize a distinct crew.
“Watching that (cross rush) come alive in opposition to one other quarterback was thrilling,” the Cowboys quarterback mentioned after the 40-0 shellacking his team put on the New York Giants on Sunday night time. “Made it simpler for us on our facet.”
Certainly, Prescott and the Cowboys offense wanted to not be explosive, however merely to deal with the ball. The protection, notably the cross rush, and particular groups took care of the remaining.
“I feel we have been making an announcement which I’ve been attempting to make,” linebacker Micah Parsons mentioned. “We’re the most effective protection within the Nationwide Soccer League.”
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was sacked seven instances and hit 12 complete instances. He was pressured on 62.9% of his throws. The cornerstone of New York’s offensive line, left sort out Andrew Thomas, injured his hamstring following the primary drive of the sport whereas attempting to trace down a blocked subject objective that was returned for a landing. Thomas performed via the damage however was hampered via the night time.
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That first run-heavy drive was the lone time within the recreation the Giants moved the ball with any success. Head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned the Cowboys anticipated that, as groups will attempt to extinguish Dallas’ cross rush by working it early and infrequently. Dallas didn’t stray from its strengths, although.
“We took step one the suitable method and performed to our id,” McCarthy mentioned. “We took the ball away. We ran it.”
Jones’ second interception of the sport – the primary was returned by DaRon Bland for a landing when Trevon Diggs lit up Saquon Barkley on a brief cross try – got here as a direct results of Parsons pursuing Jones towards the sideline from behind.
Osa Odighizuwa and Dorance Armstrong every had two sacks, whereas Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston every had one.
“When your protection performs like that, yeah, you don’t should press something,” Prescott mentioned.
He added: “You do not see loads of wins like this.”
McCarthy, in his first recreation as playcaller in Dallas following the departure of former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (now with the Los Angeles Chargers), dialed up extra runs (30) than passes (25) as his crew raced out to a large lead.
The climate performed a consider that as nicely, McCarthy mentioned. Rain – torrential at factors –had an apparent impact on the taking part in situations. And the Cowboys, regardless of being a crew that performs its dwelling video games indoors, have been ready.
Thrice this week Dallas practiced wet-ball drills. Operating again Tony Pollard, who had 70 speeding yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, mentioned the additional follow “positively” helped and that he knew what to anticipate whereas holding the heavier ball. Prescott mentioned that a number of instances upon receiving the snap he felt like he was holding “a ball of water.”
The Giants additionally needed to take care of a slippery ball however did not deal with it as nicely. They put the ball on the bottom 5 instances and have been fortunate sufficient to solely lose possession as soon as, when Cowboys cornerback Diggs punched the ball out from receiver Isaiah Hodgins’ fingers after a 24-yard catch-and-run. Dallas recovered its lone fumble.
Mom Nature had no affect on the blokes going after Jones and the Giants, although.
“We’re the identical any kind of climate, any kind of place,” mentioned Lawrence, who notched his eleventh sack in 16 contests in opposition to the NFC East rival.
Lawrence traced the cross rush’s success again to the arrival of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who “modified our entrance tremendously,” in 2021. That season, the protection tied for the league lead in turnover differential (+14). In 2022, the Cowboys have been second (+10), trailing solely the San Francisco 49ers, the crew that knocked them out of final 12 months’s postseason. In that NFC divisional-round recreation, Prescott threw two interceptions and Dallas misplaced the takeaway battle 2-1 within the 19-12 defeat. The quarterback opened 2023 with a clear sheet.
A variety of good can come from going up in opposition to Parsons, Lawrence and Co. in follow, Prescott mentioned.
“Whether or not it was rushing me up, forcing me to test down faster, making my toes transfer, making my selections quicker,” Prescott mentioned.
Generally, the rep could have technically been a sack, however the nature of follow and letting the play develop whatever the cross rush additionally helped.
“I can inform you that after loads of the performs and issues that occur in follow,” Prescott mentioned, “I used to be grateful these guys are on our crew.”
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