4 Cowboys playmakers for the NY Giants defense to focus on

Sunday night is going to be a fantastic battle between the NY Giants and Dallas Cowboys. These two NFC East rivals don't like one another and the stands are going to be packed at MetLife Stadium for what should be a close game.

Last season, quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys defeated the G-Men in their two meetings, as has been the case in recent years. Prescott has defeated the Giants in each of the last 10 games he’s faced off against them. The Cowboys have surrounded Prescott with several players who can cause problems for Big Blue.

With that said, here are four Cowboys playmakers the NY Giants defense has to focus on if they want to snap their losing streak against Prescott:

4. Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson

Prescott has targeted the tight end position at a high rate throughout his career and Jake Ferguson enters Week 1 as the Cowboys’ unquestioned starting TE. Prescott recently helped turn former Cowboy Dalton Schultz into a stud, helping him land a big-time payday from the Houston Texans this offseason.

Schultz averaged over 5.5 targets per game over the past three seasons once he became the team’s starter. That is a sizeable vacated target share that Ferguson is going to absorb and the G-Men struggled defending opposing tight ends last season. Per The Football Database, Big Blue allowed 5.2 receptions and 55.2 receiving yards per game to opposing TEs in 2022.

The Giants bolstered the middle of their defensive unit by signing newly-named team captain Bobby Okereke this offseason, who should help them fare better against tight ends in 2023. With the Cowboys having several other playmakers that need to be focused on, the Giants cannot lose sight of Ferguson. He has the potential to be a standout for the Dallas offense in '23.

3. Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks

Brandin Cooks is entering his age-30 season with what will be his fifth team in nine campaigns as a pro since the Saints drafted him with the No. 20 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. Cooks’ career has been odd, as it is strange to see such a talented and reliable receiver traded so many times throughout his career.

Cooks has recorded at least 1,000 yards for every team he’s played for and has shown an ability to command targets at a high rate while also being productive with said targets. Despite being best suited as the second option for a team, Cooks has shown the ability to be a lead receiver when called upon.

What Cooks brings to the table that the Cowboys lacked last season is a deep threat who can beat defenses down the field and take the lid off of a defense. He may not have the same 4.33 40-yard dash speed he had nearly a decade ago, but he is still able to burn defenses with his legs.

The G-Men need to watch out for Cooks’ explosiveness and big-play potential in his Cowboys debut. He could prove to be quite the test for the young Big Blue secondary.

2. Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

CeeDee Lamb was incredible in his first season sans former Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper. Lamb embraced being the alpha in the receiving room last season, earning his second straight Pro Bowl appearance and All-Pro Second Team honors. He did so to the tune of 107 receptions, 1,359 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.

Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore found a lot of success moving Lamb all around the offensive formation and across the line of scrimmage. Even with Moore now in Los Angeles with the Chargers, he laid out the blueprint for how to best utilize Lamb.

Lamb is one of the NFL’s best route runners and can explode off the line of scrimmage with a remarkably quick first step. His ability to win at the line of scrimmage and create separation with his route-running enabled him to earn over nine targets a game.

Last season, the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver spent a lot of time operating from the slot and did a lot of damage from there, leading the NFL in receiving yards gained from the slot (867). The Giants have moved their top cornerback from last season, Adoree’ Jackson, to the slot this summer out of necessity. He is going to see plenty of Lamb on Sunday night and have his hands full.

1. Cowboys RB Tony Pollard

Slowing down Tony Pollard has to be the Giants’ biggest priority on the defensive end if they want to start their season with a victory. Pollard broke out in a big way last season despite having to share a backfield with long-time Cowboys running Ezekiel Elliott. Now, with Elliott out of the picture, Pollard is set to be the focal point of this offense.

Pollard and Elliott had a near 50-50 split of snaps and touches last season and the former was still able to reach the first Pro Bowl of his career thanks to being one of the most efficient backs in the league on a per-touch basis. In 2022, Pollard ran for 1,007 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns while hauling in 39 receptions through the air for an additional 371 yards and three touchdowns.

A true three-down back who is capable of producing in multiple ways, Pollard’s dual-threat ability is something the Giants need to be prepared to handle. Pollard is a threat to score a touchdown from anywhere on the field any time he has the football in his hands. He is the Cowboys’ most dynamic playmaker on O, no doubt about that.

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