There’s no reason the Giants’ offense can’t get going against the Dallas Cowboys, but even if Daniel Jones lights it up, will it be enough to pick up win No. 1?
Will this be the week?
NY Giants head coach Joe Judge seeks career win No. 1 on Sunday afternoon when he leads his winless team into Arlington to take on a 1-3 and vulnerable NFC East rival in the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite scoring the fewest points in the league, trotting out a quarterback that can’t hold onto the football, and being outscored 53-15 the last two games, somehow the Giants are just 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East lead.
“I think it’s important for us this week as we start our division run that we play our best football,” Judge said Monday. “Obviously, we’re going through a little tough stretch right now with the division.”
That the 0-4 Giants still have flickering hope at climbing not just out of the basement but into the NFC East’s penthouse speaks volumes for the state of the worst division in football.
Sunday might be Judge’s best remaining opportunity to notch a win.
Here’s a look at four bold predictions for how Sunday’s game could play out, including a score pick.
The Giants double their average scoring output … and it still isn’t enough
The Giants’ struggles on offense have been well documented.
Entering Sunday, the Giants are averaging a league-low 11.7 points per game, Daniel Jones is the team’s leading rusher with just 137 yards, and New York has not scored an offensive touchdown in two-plus games. Prior to last Sunday’s 17-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Giants running backs were averaging less than 2.5 yards per carry.
Not ideal.
Could this be the week that changes?
Fortunately for Jones and the Giants, the Cowboys enter Week 5 allowing 38.5 points per game, the most in the NFL.
Likewise, after the Giants showed signs of life in the second half against the Rams, perhaps some momentum carries over this week.
But, even if the Giants double their output — which I think they will — 24 points likely isn’t enough to get it done. Especially with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott averaging 422 and over two touchdowns per game.
Wayne Gallman leads the Giants in carries, and rushing yards
How inept has the Giants’ running game been to open the season? Daniel Jones was the Giants’ leading rusher in three of the first four games.
That should change Sunday.
Dallas enters Week 5 allowing 172.5 rushing yards per game, and the Giants’ ground attack seemed to find its footing a bit against the Rams.
“The offense was a little more balanced in the second half,” Giants head coach Joe Judge said Wednesday.
Part of that balance came from the emergence of Wayne Gallman.
Gallman, despite logging five fewer carries than free agent newcomer Devonta Freeman rushed for 45 yards, while averaging 7.5 yards per carry and rattled off the Giants’ first explosive run by a running back since Saquon Barkley was lost for the season with a torn ACL back in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears.
This week feels like the game the Giants commit to a backfield by committee approach, and really ride the hot-hand, which I think will be Gallman.
Don’t be surprised if Gallman approaches 100 rushing yards and a touchdown against Dallas’ vulnerable defense.
Evan Engram (finally) catches his first touchdown of the season
To call Giants tight end Evan Engram‘s start to the season inconsistent would be putting it kindly.
Engram, expected by many to take a significant leap in coordinator Jason Garrett’s tight end-centric offense has caught just 17 of his 30 targets for 131 yards through four weeks. He’s yet to score a touchdown.
I think that changes Sunday.
“Evan’s always a guy we’re trying to get involved,” Giants head coach Joe Judge said Wednesday. “Evan has skill roles, and can contribute in-line with some of the blocking, he’s always a big part of the gameplan for us.”
The Giants seemed to find success lining Engram up in the slot as well as at wide receiver in the second half of a Week 2 loss to the Bears, in which Engram caught six of eight targets for a season-high 65 yards.
I think it’s realistic to think Engram could surpass those numbers and score his first touchdown of the season against the Cowboys.
Daniel Jones plays a turnover free game … for the first time this season
Daniel Jones has a turnover problem. You might have heard.
Through four games, Jones has already tossed five interceptions and lost two fumbles. He’s on pace for 28 turnovers.
However, this feels like the week that Jones puts it all together and holds onto the ball.
Jones’ back-breaking interception along the sideline that dashed the Giants’ comeback hopes in the waning moments of last Sunday’s loss aside, the second-year signal caller played a much cleaner game against the Rams.
Given that protecting the football is a point of emphasis for Jones, and the Cowboys have a pitiful -7 turnover ratio entering Week 5, this feels like the game that Jones doesn’t throw an interception or lose a fumble.
The biggest question, though, is whether it will matter in the final score.
Until the Giants prove that they are able to put up the kind of points that the high-flying offenses around the league are, and the defense can generate consistent pressure on the quarterback, it’s difficult to predict this team to beat anyone on their schedule.
Final score prediction: Dallas Cowboys 29, Giants 23
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.