The Giants.com crew reacts to Sunday's 44-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys:
John Schmeelk: The Giants are 1-4 and now have injuries to eight of their 11 projected starters on offense from the summer. Only Nate Solder, Will Hernandez and Evan Engram remain without injuries that could hold out the banged up players Sunday when the Giants host the Rams. Much like Kadarius Toney was able to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him the last two weeks, other players will now have a similar chances in the coming weeks.
Matt Peart already did so against the Cowboys in place of Andrew Thomas. He allowed only two pressures on 44 pass protection snaps. Devontae Booker will have a chance to carry the load at running back in place of Saquon Barkley. John Ross's role may increase. Mike Glennon may be the team's starting quarterback.
Opportunities like this are why a team's backups pay attention in meeting every day and still work their butts off at practice. All that hard work will now have a chance to pay off as they are potentially thrust into bigger roles. Having to do so against a team as talented against the Rams will be extremely difficult but that it is the nature of the NFL. Next man up.
Check out the best photos from the New York Giants' Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
New York Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter (59) celebrates intercepting a Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott pass in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) scrambles out of the pocket under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) keeps the ball for a short gain in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
New York Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter (59) celebrates intercepting a Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott pass in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) calls a play during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter (59) celebrates with New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter (59) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks the ball during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks to make a pass during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
New York Giants' Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5) and Casey Kreiter (58) celebrate a field goal kicked by Gano in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) catches a pass as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown, bottom, defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) escapes tackle attempts by Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Brown (30) and safety Malik Hooker, bottom right, as Toney gains long yardage after a catch in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) catches a pass for a first down as Dallas Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee (18) gives chase in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys' Keanu Neal (42), Micah Parsons (11) and Jayron Kearse (27) help defend as New York Giants running back Devontae Booker (28) reaches the end zone over the top of the pile for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants quarterback Mike Glennon runs the ball for a short gain in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants quarterback Mike Glennon throws a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants quarterback Mike Glennon (2) throws a pass as the Dallas Cowboys rush in the second half of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
New York Giants running back Devontae Booker (28) stretches to reach the end zone for a touchdown as Dallas Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee, top, defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
QB Daniel Jones
DL Leonard Williams, DL Dexter Lawrence
DL Dexter Lawrence
DL Dexter Lawrence
DL Dexter Lawrence
RB Saquon Barkley
DL Dexter Lawrence
RB Saquon Barkley, WR Kenny Golladay
DB Logan Ryan, CB Adoree' Jackson
RB Saquon Barkley
DB Logan Ryan
CB Darnay Holmes
S Julian Love
LB Oshane Ximenes
DB Logan Ryan
WR C.J. Board
CB James Bradberry
DB Logan Ryan
S Xavier McKinney
CB Darnay Holmes
QB Daniel Jones
QB Daniel Jones
QB Daniel Jones
QB Daniel Jones
QB Daniel Jones
TE Evan Engram
TE Evan Engram
QB Daniel Jones
WR John Ross
WR Collin Johnson
WR John Ross
QB Daniel Jones
WR Kenny Golladay
WR Kadarius Toney
WR Kenny Golladay
WR Kenny Golladay
TE Kyle Rudolph
CB Adoree' Jackson
WR Kadarius Toney
LB Quincy Roche
LB Niko Lalos
WR Dante Pettis
LB Carter Coughlin
RB Devontae Booker
WR John Ross
CB Darnay Holmes
LB Lorenzo Carter
WR Kadarius Toney
DL Leonard Williams
S Julian Love
RB Saquon Barkley
RB Saquon Barkley
CB James Bradberry
CB Adoree' Jackson
LB Azeez Ojulari
CB James Bradberry
LS Casey Kreiter
CB James Bradberry
CB James Bradberry
John Ross (12)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Danny Shelton (75)
Logan Ryan (23)
Danny Shelton (75)
Logan Ryan (23)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Darnay Holmes (30)
Tae Crowder (48)
Julian Love (20)
Julian Love (20)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Dante Pettis (13)
Julian Love (20)
Julian Love (20)
Graham Gano (5)
Darius Slayton (86)
Daniel Jones (8)
James Bradberry (24)
Daniel Jones (8)
Dexter Lawrence (97)
Sterling Shepard (3)
James Bradberry (24)
Gary Brightwell (37)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Xavier McKinney (29)
Cullen Gillaspia (36)
Kaden Smith (82)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Xavier McKinney (29)
C.J. Board (18)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Niko Lalos (57)
Cullen Gillaspia (36)
Niko Lalos (57)
Niko Lalos (57)
Matt Peart (74)
Matt Peart (74)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Kyle Rudolph (80)
Trent Harris
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Kyle Rudolph (80)
Kyle Rudolph (80)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Riley Dixon (9), Casey Kreiter (58)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Mike Glennon (2)
Billy Price (69)
Riley Dixon (9), Casey Kreiter (58)
Trent Harris (93)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Trent Harris (93)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Kadarius Toney (89)
Lorenzo Carter (59)
Leonard Williams (99)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Oshane Ximines (53)
Leonard Williams (99)
Kenny Golladay (19), Saquon Barkley (26)
Collin Johnson (15)
Jabrill Peppers (21)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Kenny Golladay (19), Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Collin Johnson (15)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Kenny Golladay (19)
Cullen Gillaspia (36)
Evan Engram (88)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Andrew Thomas (78)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Sterling Shepard (3)
Evan Engram (88)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Lorenzo Carter (59)
Austin Johnson (98)
Adoree' Jackson (22)
Lorenzo Carter (59)
Reggie Ragland (55)
Leonard Williams (99)
Dan Salomone: Even the Cowboys saw the silver lining for the Giants as they lost player after player to injuries. After an encouraging performance in New Orleans, wide receiver Kadarius Toney had a true breakout game and broke Odell Beckham Jr.'s franchise rookie record by four receiving yards with 189 in Dallas.
"He's a great player," Cowboys linebacker Keanu Neal said about Toney's 10-catch game. "He's extremely shifty. He stops on a dime. That's one thing I noticed playing him today. Watching him on film, he gets open, he's a great route runner, and I think he's going to be a great one."
It could have been more, though. The first-round draft choice was ejected with 6:06 remaining in the game after punching safety Damontae Kazee.
"Look, there's a pretty distinct line in terms of competing and doing the things we're not going to condone as a team that put us behind; that's not going to be accepted," coach Joe Judge said. "It's not going to be condoned. That's as far as I'm going to go with that. Obviously, it resulted in him leaving the game and I'm just going to leave it at that right now."
But even Judge couldn't deny what he saw from the rookie as they are short on playmakers for the time being.
"I think he's being very productive," Judge said. "He's a very talented player. I've said for a number of weeks, especially at that position, the receiver position, it takes some time to learn. There a lot of differences coming from college to the league for those positions. These guys obviously have a lot of just natural ability. He's building a lot of technique, a lot of savvy. He's really understanding what the other teams are giving him. He's making plays. He was highly productive for us today in terms of making plays, getting down the field. He's a tough dude, I don't think there's any question about that and I think he's a very smart football player."
Lance Medow: Most will point to injuries as to why the Dallas game got out of hand but there's many other reasons for the final result. Entering Sunday, the Cowboys were tied for first in the NFL in turnover differential (+7) and were second in takeaways with 10. They had only three turnovers in the first four games combined yet in the first quarter against the Giants, Dallas coughed up the ball twice. Lorenzo Carter made an athletic play to pick off Dak Prescott on the opening drive of the game. Later in the quarter, Prescott mishandled a snap on a 2nd-and-goal at the New York 5 - a huge break for the Giants. Takeaways are great but it's all about what you do with them. Big Blue scored no points off Dallas' mishaps. Graham Gano missed a 54-yard field goal after the first takeaway and they went three-and-out following the second one. In comparison, the Cowboys scored 10 points off a pair of Giants turnovers (including a Pick-6 by Anthony Brown).
The Cowboys scored on each of their last five possessions of the game (three touchdowns, two field goals), piled up 515 total yards, including 201 on the ground, and went 8-14 on third down. It's hard to pin that on injuries, given the bulk of the defensive starters were on the field. Much like last week in New Orleans, missed tackles came back to haunt the Giants as the Cowboys had seven runs of 10 or more yards. That's a big reason why nine of their 14 third downs were for six yards or less and, no coincidence, they converted seven of them for first downs.
Despite the injuries, it was a 17-13 Dallas lead with just over 11 minutes to go in the third quarter, but the Giants' offense only scored seven points on its last four possessions combined. When you add that to the defensive issues mentioned above, it's extremely challenging to keep pace with one of the top offenses in the NFL. There were some early opportunities to dictate the tone of the game but New York couldn't take advantage.
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