Cowboys show how far away NY Giants are from relevancy in 21-6 loss | Takeaways

No forgiveness for early mistakes

Teams that make opponents pay for turnovers by converting them into points are the teams best equipped to make a run, and that’s exactly what the Dallas Cowboys did on the NY Giants’ first possession Sunday.

On New York’s opening drive, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn bumped edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence inside, and Lawrence simply bullied Will Hernandez on his way to Mike Glennon, forcing an errant pass that was intercepted by Jourdan Lewis.

Two plays later, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott sprinted 13 yards for a touchdown, to give Dallas a 6-0 lead.

In order for the undermanned — and undertalented — NY Giants to have a shot at an upset, New York needed to play a nearly flawless game. Glennon and the offense couldn’t even produce a clean opening drive.

The Cowboys produced three first-half turnovers, including Lawrence punching the ball out from Saquon Barkley, forcing the first lost fumble of Barkley’s career — after 598 rushing attempts.

By game’s end, the Cowboys produced four takeaways, for the third consecutive week. Defense like that could carry Dallas on a Super Bowl run, the kind the NY Giants once were capable of but seem lightyears away from mounting in their current state.