Cowboys finish preseason first in total/pass defense?

[MrPeanutbutter]

Exactly. I'm stoked about the promise shown by the Dallas D, but I don't think what we've seen is a preview of the regular season any more than I do what we've seen from Bradford and the Philadelphia O.

ESPN has already started printing Eagles' division championship tees.

 

[kramskoi]

No kidding. Right out of the gate, we're going to get to see a lot. A veteran QB, good WRs (even if Cruz doesn't play), and an OL that ought to have some protection issues. Against our revamped DL and secondary. A big first game could start things rolling for a defense that ought to have a chip on its shoulder because of the last three seasons of futility after struggling to get to 'mediocre' in 2014.

Historically, the first game between both teams have been barn-burners...Dallas @ 27.75 ppg / New York @ 29.75 ppg... 6 - 6 over the last 12 years iirc. That is why you can usually throw out the records when these two teams meet. However, if you start the Garrett era circa 2011, then Dallas has owned the Giants in the first match up 3 - 1, with New York's last (first match up) win coming during their '11 Superbowl run (they swept Dallas that year). It was a game the Cowboys had no business in hell losing. Not when Romo threw 4 TDs/ 0 INTs and absorbed 3 sacks en-route to a 141.3 passer rating. The defense suffered a catastrophic collapse in the final 5 1/2 minutes...surrendering 15 points. I have always seen this game as the one that launched the Giants toward the Superbowl that year. I think Terence Newman was particularly horrible in that game...I seem to recall someone hurdling him. He was the team's highest paid player at the time iirc.

Dallas slapped Eli around "just enough" in the first matchup last year, but he was still able to put together some points, which kept the game in doubt until the fourth quarter. I would like to see them put a Philly type beat down (2014) on them...harassment early...and OFTEN. With all the clamor about Gregory, Hardy and Lawrence, I do expect this defense to be better. More talent (you could say substantially more with the return of Sean Lee)...higher ceiling and therefore higher expectations. You hate to get the Giants right out of the gate, but with Cruz hobbled, it might be the best time to steal the first one, especially with it being at home. Garrett's been pretty good in the first match up. If the Giants still have protection issues, then by all that is holy, unleash hell and let heaven help Manning and Co.

Looking down the list of opponents, it looks like Romo will face some pretty good fronts this year...Seattle, Buffalo, Miami (Suh again), New England, Green Bay...even Philly, which will be a good test for them early...if they can run for triple digits at the Linc, then it bodes well for the season.