The NY Giants have been unable to beat the Dallas Cowboys since 2016 – Dak Prescott’s rookie season.
Whether or not you think Dak Prescott is worth the $31 million franchise tender he and the Cowboys signed, facts remain facts. 2016, his rookie season, was the last year the NY Giants made it to the playoffs. It was the last year the Giants had a winning season.
And it was the last year the NY Giants beat the Cowboys.
Since then, Dak’s Cowboys have run roughshod over the G-Men to the tune of six wins in a row.
For Dallas, Dak has been a story of success. In 2015, the Cowboys were the worst team in the NFC East, limping to a 4-12 record. But since Prescott took over in 2016, the Cowboys achieved three straight seasons of winning records, before going .500 last season.
The team made the playoffs twice and has finished either first or second in the division all four years he’s been the signal-caller.
Much of the Cowboys’ offensive power also comes from its offensive line and their superstar running back, Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott also entered the league in 2016. Any metric by which you gauge their success shows how effective the duo has been.
Elliott has logged over 1000 rushing in three of his four seasons and has averaged nearly 100 yards per game in three of four seasons. The only year he didn’t, he only played 10 games, and still managed to rush for 900+ yards.
Prescott threw for more than 3000 yards during all four seasons, almost hitting 5000 in 2019.. He’s also had at least 22 touchdowns in all his seasons, while only throwing 13 interceptions in his worst year.
Meanwhile, the defense of the New York Giants has plunged to depths that should give fans a reason to worry.
2016 was the last season the NY Giants let up fewer than 100 rush yards per game, according to data from NFL.com. And no team in the division allowed more passing yards per game or rushing touchdowns per game than Big Blue did in 2019.
Jason Garret brings new hope for NY Giants
Perhaps the NY Giants’ new offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett, will know some of the tricks that lie up Dak’s sleeve. Garrett, a former NFL quarterback himself and the long-time play-caller for the Cowboys, was no doubt imperative in Prescott’s development; Prescott became emotional when it was all but certain that Garrett would not return to be his coach.
Having Garrett might be the Giants’ double-edge sword this season. Not only can he further develop second-year quarterback Daniel Jones, but he won’t be there to help Dak Prescott, who will have to navigate an NFL season without Garrett for the first time.
Three seasons straight of losing records is hard enough.
But, one way that Joe Judge can win over the hearts of NY Giants fans and for Garrett to prove his worth is by helping the team finally beat the Cowboys.