Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Healthy Cowboys face ailing Giants
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys channeled the anger from a collapse one week into the biggest road rout in club history the next.
Now they’re thinking about building on all the things that went right while the opponent tries to figure out what went wrong.
The New York Giants visit the Cowboys on Thanksgiving with the NFC East rivals sharing 7-3 records, two games behind division-leading Philadelphia.
Not much else is similar for this pair of playoff contenders, the Cowboys are healthy and appearing primed to get on a roll, the Giants sputtering and dealing with injuries.
Dallas blew a 14-point lead entering the fourth quarter for the first time in franchise history in an overtime loss at Green Bay before one of its most dominant performances in a long time in a 40-3 victory at Minnesota.
Prescott is finding a rhythm after missing five games with a fractured thumb on his throwing hand, surrounded by a mostly healthy roster with plenty of playmakers on defense, too.
“I think Coach [Mike] McCarthy said it best,” Prescott said. “Take a picture of what it felt like, of what it looked like when we were at our best. And when you’re not, remind yourself or do the things that are necessary to get back to that.”
The Giants just gave up season highs in points and turnovers (three) in a 31-18 loss to Detroit that dropped them into a tie with the Cowboys.
Since Dallas won 23-16 at New York in Week 3, the Giants would essentially fall two games behind the defending NFC East champions with another loss to them.
This is where the short week could come in handy for New York. It’s just the second Thanksgiving meeting out of 122 overall in the storied rivalry.
“I think it makes it easier because we have no choice, but to quickly move on to the next opponent,” Giants defensive end Leonard Williams said. “Regardless of win or lose, every week we talk about flushing the last game and moving on to the next one.”
New York quarterback Daniel Jones has four rushing touchdowns, more than in any of his first three seasons. He probably doesn’t want to be reminded of one he didn’t get last season.
Jones returns to the field where he was taken off on a cart last year after stumbling and almost falling from a hit by Dallas linebacker Jabril Cox.
The helmet-to-helmet contact came near a pylon with Jones trying to get across the goal line.
That play didn’t come up in Jones’ meeting with reporters, but injuries at receiver and in the offensive line did.
“It certainly is a challenge,” said Jones, who is making his Thanksgiving debut. “But I think it’s also a great opportunity for us to show who we are, show what we can do, our toughness.”
Jones seemingly has been playing a game of musical chairs with his wide receivers and tight ends all season.
Sterling Shepard and rookie Wan’Dale Robinson are out for the season with ACL injuries. Veteran Kenny Golladay has been in and out of the doghouse.
Kadarius Toney was shipped to the Chiefs. Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger ( eye) will miss a fourth straight game.
Jones’ options will be Darius Slayton, Golladay, Isaiah Hodgins and tight end Lawrence Cager, a practice squad promotion.