In a surprise many football fans and experts didn’t see coming, the NY Giants and Dallas Cowboys have the same record going into Week 4’s Thursday Night Football clash. If it wasn’t for an injury to Graham Gano, the Giants could easily be fighting for first place in the NFC East heading into this week’s clash with Dallas. Regardless, the Giants — who looked dead in the water after the first two weeks of the season — need to start beating the Cowboys on a regular basis if they’re to be considered on the upswing, and that could start with Thursday’s huge showdown.
Dallas will certainly be favored, even after back-to-back losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. As we’ve already been reminded throughout 2024, though, anything can happen in the NFL on a week-to-week basis. Here are four ways the Giants can pull off the upset and defeat the Cowboys in Week 4:
4. Let rookie WR Malik Nabers do his thing
First, the Giants must continue to feed Malik Nabers. Over the first three weeks of the season, and especially against the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns, the rookie out of LSU has established himself as a force in the NFL. Ahead of Week 4, Nabers has accumulated 23 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. The one blemish on his record was an uncharacteristic drop on fourth down against Washington, but you certainly can’t be too critical of Nabers, who’s basically been the entire New York passing offense in 2024.
The first-rounder is looking more and more like a star, and he’s going to need another incredible performance on TNF if the Giants are to defeat the Cowboys, but it won’t be easy, as Dallas’ stingy secondary will be devoting their top assets to keeping him at bay.
3. Make life difficult for Dak Prescott
Next, Brian Burns and the Giants' defensive line has to make life difficult for Dak Prescott. Spider-Man and the rest of the team’s pass-rushers broke out in a big way in Cleveland, turning Deshaun Watson and the Browns offense on its head throughout the afternoon. The coveted acquisition in Burns had a couple of game-changing plays himself, including a strip-sack of Watson, which set up the Giants third touchdown of the first half.
Elsewhere, unheralded linemen like Azeez Ojulari showed they still have something in the tank, as the former Georgia star was continually in the backfield, recovering a pivotal fumble. Over the course of his career, Prescott has continually carved up the Giants defense, and he’ll be looking to do so after some average performances to begin 2024. It’ll be up to Burns, Ojulari, Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and others to ensure that’s no longer the case in Week 4.
2. Deonte Banks must play at a higher level
Continuing, Deonte Banks needs to step up while guarding CeeDee Lamb following a couple disappointing performances against Justin Jefferson and Amari Cooper. The Giants' top cornerback has found himself in some precarious positions in 2024, with the team relying on the sophomore defensive back more than ever. However, veteran wide receivers like Jefferson and Cooper have continually gotten the better of him during some of the game’s biggest moments.
It won’t get any easier for Banks in Week 4, with the supremely-talented Lamb coming to town. The Cowboys will be looking to get their star wide receiver going, as he’s off to a slow start in 2024, but that could all change with a big game in New York. It’ll be up to Banks and the rest of the Giants secondary to avoid disaster on Thursday. They can't let Lamb get back into a rhythm against their defense.
1. Daniel Jones has to take care of the football
Finally, it’s paramount that Daniel Jones plays mistake-free football after getting bailed out of a couple turnovers against the Browns. Since his disastrous Week 1, Jones has fared much better against the Commanders and the Browns, even if he was helped out a bit during Week 3’s game against the AFC North franchise. Jones threw a terrible interception that was called back due a roughing the passer penalty, and the aforementioned Nabers took away another two, the latter of which was simply a ball thrown into triple coverage from Jones at a time when the Giants couldn’t afford a turnover.
If Jones wants to win back the Giants fanbase, he can’t have another performance in MetLife like he had in Week 1, but he’s never done much of note against Dallas in his career. Perhaps he can turn the tide in Week 4, and if he plays more like he did on the road than against the Vikings, the Giants will have a chance in this one.