Cowboys running back Tony Pollard vs the Giants’ inside linebackers Jaylon Smith and Micah McFadden
Move over, Ezekiel Elliott. In his fourth NFL season, Pollard has established himself as Dallas’ primary running back. Pollard caught two touchdown passes against the Vikings last week and averages a healthy 5.9 yards per rush attempt.
In Week 3, Tae Crowder and Austin Calitro were the starting inside linebackers for the Giants (13-105).
Perhaps Smith and McFadden can do a better job, despite the run defense allowing 160 yards and four rushing touchdowns to three Lions running backs last week.
The Giants need the Cowboys to be feeling overconfident and content following their 37-point victory over the Vikings. Otherwise, this will be quite challenging. The Jonas Brothers will play at halftime, and the home team will be in party mode for these Thanksgiving games in the Dallas region, which always have a carnival-like atmosphere. How are the Giants able to destroy the mood?
Cowboys 34, Big Blue 13
Four falls
not duplicate The Giants’ decision to trade away the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft might go down as one of the franchise’s worst decisions. Once the Eagles traded up to No. 10 to choose receiver DeVonta Smith, whom the Giants want, the Giants chose to make a trade with the Bears, who selected quarterback Justin Fields at No. 11. The Giants passed on linebacker Micah Parsons and offensive tackle Rayshawn Slater and selected Kadarius Toney at No. 20 instead.
The next season, the Giants acquired more draft selections and utilized two of them to choose Evan Neal and Daniel Bellinger. However, missing out on Parsons is a killer. He is a monster, and the Giants must face him twice every season.
Shane Lemieux may have been given too much too soon by the Giants. As soon as he was activated, he was slotted at left guard against the Lions, despite not having played since the 2021 season opening due to knee and toe operations.
Lemieux did not appear to be ready for full-time employment, and he is currently out with another toe ailment. The replacement for Lemieux, rookie Josh Ezeudu, is also sidelined with a neck injury. The Cowboys possess a formidable defensive front. Will backup Jack Anderson, who has played eight snaps this season, be required to make his first start? Anderson, Tyre Phillips if he moves from tackle, or Devery Hamilton, who was signed off the practice squad. Gulp. Jon Feliciano (neck) did not travel, therefore Nick Gates will start at center for the first time since Week 1 of the previous season.
Odell Beckham Jr. is scheduled to visit with the Giants and Cowboys in the coming days.
After CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, the Cowboys might use an additional wide receiver. The Giants require all-around upgrading at that position. Will the outcome of this match influence where Beckham lands? The Cowboys have been far more active in their pursuits. The Giants are taking a low-key approach and must first determine whether Beckham is healthy following his second ACL surgery. There is no question that he will see this game.
Numbers man: Daniel Jones may have only recently arrived, but given that the NFL is predominantly a throwing game, he is swiftly climbing the franchise quarterback rankings.
He is the seventh Giants player to achieve 10,000 passing yards, and if he passes Y.A. Tittle with 105 passing yards in this game, he would move into sixth position. Jones surpasses Fran Tarkenton and goes into sixth place on the Giants’ career chart with 21 more completions. Jones has barely completed half of his fourth season. Debate rages over whether he is the long-term solution.
A major sporting event shown on national television on a national holiday will not harm Jones Should Stay supporters.