The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have an extra day to prepare for each other leading up their Monday Night Football matchup at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants are 2-0 for the first time since 2016, the year they swept the season series with the Cowboys and book-ended an 11-game winning streak by Dallas in the process. This year, the Cowboys are 1-1 coming off a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who is filling in for the injured Dak Prescott.
"Playing on Monday night is always special, but the things that help you win a game on Sunday at one o'clock are the things that help you win a game on Monday," coach Brian Daboll said. "And I think that's where our focus needs to be is there's plenty of things that we needed to correct from Week 2, from Week 1. You're always evaluating where you're at as a team, whether it's after a loss, after a win. You're doing research on scheduling, making adjustments. You never want to come out and say, 'Well, we weren't prepared in that regard.' We're working hard to keep improving as an organization all the way around. We look forward to playing on Monday night and trying to build off on some of the things we did well and improve on the things we haven't done well."
Here are three keys to victory on Monday night:
11 is the Micah
After two weeks of focusing on running backs, the Giants' turned their attention to the other side of the ball in identifying potential game-wreckers. Micah Parsons, the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, notched two sacks in each of his first two games this season, making that 17 total in his first 18 career games. The Penn State product three sacks in his next two games to become the fastest player to reach 20 career sacks since they became an official statistic in 1982. The Giants will try to pass the buck to the Commanders, whom Parsons faces next. Parsons had three quarterback hits against the Giants as a rookie with no sacks; however, Dallas swept the season series.
"He's a problem," coach Brian Daboll said. "He's a dynamic football player. And he can play multiple spots. He does. You'll see him at linebacker. You'll see him at defensive end. He has rare pass-rush ability. We're going to have to have a good plan for him. He's fun to watch when you're not getting ready to play him. I'll give him that compliment. He just does things that are pretty impressive on the football field."
Daboll continued, "I've seen him play in a variety of spots. He plays in the stack behind a loaded-up box. We have to know obviously where he's at. But our tackles are going to have to do a good job, too. You can't chip him or ... you can't do it on every single play. I think that's the beauty of where they move him around. I think [Dallas defensive coordinator Dan] Quinn does a great job with his scheme. He's a dynamic player."
Tighten the chinstraps, 11 to the football
While Ezekiel Elliott has fewer than 100 rush yds in a career-high 14 straight games, the Cowboys also have Tony Pollard, who is also a threat to catch passes out of the backfield. The Cowboys have won nine of the past 10 meetings with the Giants, averaging 128.1 yards on the ground in those victories.
"A lot of that is, first of all it's very difficult for the defense when you have two running backs of their caliber – especially when they're out there on the field at the same time," defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said. "But either one of them could be Pro Bowl running backs. They basically have very similar skillset. I've always said going against Zeke that once he gets his shoulders squared and he starts heading downfield, he's a problem. You better be ready to come tackling. So, it's going to be another one of those games where we got to tighten up our chinstraps and try to get 11 people the football."
Clean it up for a faster start
The Giants (2-0) have started the season fast despite two sluggish first halves. They have a minus-13 scoring differential in the first half compared to plus-17 in the final 30 minutes. The Giants know the slow starts will eventually catch up to them, especially on offense. So, what is the solution?
"I think what we're emphasizing is the communication part of it at the line of scrimmage, player to player, coach to player, coach to coach," offensive coordinator and play-caller Mike Kafka said. "The communication part of that and then the execution part. We've kind of taken a step back within ourselves and said, 'Alright, how can we be cleaner on this scheme? How can we be cleaner detailed on these types of situations?' That's really been our focus, I think. If we can start to build on that, I think that's when we'll start seeing a faster start for us."
The Giants will wear their all-white Color Rush uniforms on Monday Night Football against the Cowboys.
New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley (26) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) catches a touchdown pass during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants' Sterling Shepard (87) scores a touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles' Jaylen Watkins (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley (26) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Dexter Lawrence (97), Darnay Holmes (30)
Kadarius Toney (89)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) takes part in a week 9 regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Monday November 4th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley (26) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Darnay Holmes (30)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Dexter Lawrence (97), Darnay Holmes (30)
Daniel Jones (8)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Kadarius Toney (89), Darius Slayton (86)
Aaron Robinson (33)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Elerson G. Smith (94),
Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Aaron Robinson (33)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Daniel Jones (8)
Darius Slayton (86)
DL Dexter Lawrence (97)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks following a week 11 football game against on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
DL Dexter Lawrence (97)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (78) catches a touchdown pass during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) waves to a fan before a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks off during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive line huddles before a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) And New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates sacking Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) runs after a catch during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, December 22, 2016, Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants 24-19. (Al Tielemans via AP Images)
New York Giants' Eli Manning in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
New York Giants line up during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants QB Daniel Jones (8) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants QB Daniel Jones (8) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants DL Leonard Williams (99) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Leonard Williams (99)
New York Giants DL Leonard Williams (99) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants DL Leonard Williams (99) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants QB Eli Manning (10) during a week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
