To some, the New York Giants' Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys may seem like the product of a masterful game plan or opening night randomness. Left tackle Andrew Thomas knows better.
He went through head coach John Harbaugh's grueling offseason practices, put in extra work with his teammates, and spent hours adjusting to a new offensive system. He knows that Big Blue's hot start was no accident. It was the result of months of preparation.
When asked about how Harbaugh's grueling practices prepared the team to hit the ground running in the regular season, Thomas told it like it is.
Thomas said, "We're definitely conditioned for the fourth quarter. We practice hard. Sometimes I'm not too happy at practice, but it definitely pays off."
John Harbaugh’s demanding Giants practices paid off immediately in Week 1
Cam Skattebo echoed Thomas' sentiment after the game, putting the Giants' hard-earned mindset into one word that opponents should fear: "Punishment. We’re going to punish you for four quarters. We’re in a 15-round fight and we’re not going to finish until 15 rounds are over. We don’t want to knock you out in the second quarter. We want to knock you out in the fourth quarter."
This new mindset, built from the brutal practices that the team endured in the offseason, was clear to see against the Cowboys. The G-Men were the more physical team from start to finish. They won in the trenches, limiting the Cowboys' rushing attack and opening up their own.
No player was afraid to lower his shoulder or to do the dirty work. No player was caught napping in coverage or lacking effort on a backside run. The whole team was both bought into Harbaugh's vision and prepared for everything that Dallas could throw their way.
The result was a controlled win from start to finish. The Giants grabbed the reins early in the game and never let go. They dominated Dallas in time of possession and rushing yards.
Harbaugh built one of the most consistent winners in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, and he did it by instilling discipline and fight before the games ever started. That grit is part of what made the Ravens such a steady threat in the AFC for nearly two decades.
He's bringing the same thing to New York. While fans just caught their first glimpse of it, players have been living it for months.
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