Instant Replay 2016 - Game 1 Giants

[T-RO]

With a lull before training camp and then the season I thought I'd march through the 2016 season in a retrospective fashion. I'll just look at selected aspects of each game.

Our season opener was at home before 90,000. This was our first glimpse of Zeke and Dak. The nerves and energy in the house were electric.

The first drive featured flawless play by our rookie quarterback in his first action...and against what we later learned was one of the NFL's toughest defenses.

On his first pass Dak dodged a blitzing corner and rifled a 9 yard completion to Dez Bryant, who smartly came back up the field to make a catch on the sidelines.

Dak completed his first four or five passes and would have finished off the drive w/a touchdown had Cole Beasley been able to hold onto a pass where he was cutting open at the four yard line. So Dak's first NFL incompletion was a drop.

Then two plays later the Giants Casillas made a fine open field tackle, pulling Zeke down on a short pass that could have netted six.

In the run game Zeke had tough sledding but helped convert some third downs.

After 15 plays and 70 yards, Cowboys settle for a field goal.

 

[T-RO]

The Cowboys utterly dominated the Giants in the first third of the game, but only had a 6-0 lead to show for it.

In two plays the Giants answered. Beckham beat Scandrick deep…then the Giants tight end beat Hitchens for a touchdown.

7-6 Giants at the 9-minute mark second quarter.

On the third Dallas drive Dak hit Dez for a 25 yard TD. Ball was perfectly thrown. Unfortunately replays revealed Dez lost control of the ball as he hit the ground. Bailey field goal makes it 9-7. Giants have only had 4 minutes of ball possession, but Dallas has not pulled awy.

 

[T-RO]

7 seconds left in the half Sterling Sheppard scores on an obvious pick route. No call. 14-9 half-time score.

Thoughts on first half:
-Due to Dak's passing and diversified receiving core, Dallas never had to punt and didn't turn the ball over.
-Cowboys hurt by getting very little production in the run game and two red zone drops.

 

[gmoney112]

IIRC, we had a few dropped INT's in that game as well.

Mo did a pretty good job right? I also think he dropped one. Might have been Scandrick with another drop.

I almost forgot about the drops by the WR's. That game our entire team was playing hot potato.

 

[T-RO]

The third quarter starts happily for the Boys. The Cowboys get stops on a Carr interception and Mayowa sack. Zeke gets his first NFL touchdown.

 

[T-RO]

IIRC, we had a few dropped INT's in that game as well.

Mo did a pretty good job right? I also think he dropped one. Might have been Scandrick with another drop.

I almost forgot about the drops by the WR's. That game our entire team was playing hot potato.

I think the dropped INT might have been in the second Giant's game? I haven't finished watching but I haven't seen any dropped INTs in this one so far.

Claiborne was pretty good considering he was guarding the very best. He did have a lot of deep safety help. Had one very nice break up on a maybe a 18 yard pass.

 

[T-RO]

Giants ran the ball so much better than the Cowboys did in this game. They averaged 4.7 yards per carry, and the Cowboys only 3.7.

Zeke only had 51 yards on 20 carries.

In this one game if you were an uneducated fan you might have thought Alfred Morris was better than Elliott, which is obviously...silly. But Zeke took a few games to get rolling last season...and then he was a steamroller.

 

[T-RO]

The game likely was decided on the Cowboys possession with 5 minutes remaining.

Here was how our hopes were crushed:

Play 1...again Zeke gets nothing on an up-the-gut run

Play 2..Dak throws Dez a very catchable ball and as the ball arrives...you can see Dez is looking into massive glare from the Jerry World Window. He doesn't even put his hands where the ball is, which makes me think he couldn't see it. Whatever the case...Dez had a pretty horrible game.

Play 3...Dak with a pass that had Troy raving...to Williams. First down

Play 4...Another running play that hurts. Not only does Zeke lose yardage, but there is holding. Lae'l Collins had two holding penalties this game.

Play 5...Pass to Witten...way over his head

Play 6...Doug Free gets beat--happened a lot. Dak under pressure throws great pass to Cole but Giant player dives and barely bats it ways

Play 7...On 3rd and twenty...run a safe pass to Witten for 9. Punt.

 

[T-RO]

On their final drive the Giants gashed the hell out of us on up-the-middle runs. One exception was a play where Irving threw a Giant back for a 3-yard loss.

By the time we got the ball the clock had bled down to 1:05. Final minute and wrap tomorrow.

 

[Sepia]

I was at that game. Zeke had a bad game, as did Dez, and I think the sun was also in Witten's eye during one pass. That was when we got Garrett's quote about sunlight.

 

[BrassCowboy]

do you think Jerry did anything to fix the sun glare problem and cover the windows?

 

[T-RO]

-Lack of splash plays on offense
-Red Zone...couldn't close the deal
-

I was at that game. Zeke had a bad game, as did Dez, and I think the sun was also in Witten's eye during one pass. That was when we got Garrett's quote about sunlight.

First play of the last drive. Witten didn't come close to catching a ball thrown right at him. I think Jason may have sustained eye damage.

This image barely looks believable but swear to gawd just a screen grab from NFL Rewind.

 

[haleyrules]

-Lack of splash plays on offense
-Red Zone...couldn't close the deal
-


First play of the last drive. Witten didn't come close to catching a ball thrown right at him. I think Jason may have sustained eye damage.

This image barely looks believable but swear to gawd just a screen grab from NFL Rewind.

Sure. Like most clubs. Its fixable.

 

[DFWJC]

They break that little losing streak this year vs NY.
Won the last 5 vs the Giants with Romo
Lost the last 3 without him.

Mark it. That ends this year.

 

[T-RO]

Final drive starts with 1:05, no timeouts. Cowboys on their own 20.


-Play 1: Witten can't catch easy pass (Jerry Window)
-Play 2: Dunbar with nifty open field RAC gets us up to the 36.
-Play 3: Spike...40 seconds left...
-Play 4: False start, Martin
-Play 5: Incompletion to Witten...unclear if ball was a bit over-thrown...Witten appeared to stop running.
-Play 6: Beasley catch. First down. Cole had a monster game, though one key drop
-Play 7: Spike...17 seconds left.
-Play 8: Incomplete...Witten
-Play 9: The T-Wil catch where he doesn't get out of bounds

So close...but season opener is a 'L'

 

[T-RO]

They break that little losing streak this year vs NY.
Won the last 5 vs the Giants with Romo
Lost the last 3 without him.

Mark it. That ends this year.

I suspect our ability to win the division in '17 could come down to our two Giant games.

 

[Sepia]

do you think Jerry did anything to fix the sun glare problem and cover the windows?

No. It worked in our favor on Thanksgiving.

 

[T-RO]

No. It worked in our favor on Thanksgiving.

It probably hurts both teams evenly over the course of a season. Sure hurt us in this game. I do wish Jerry would tint the glass but I doubt he does so.

 

[haleyrules]

I suspect our ability to win the division in '17 could come down to our two Giant games.

Yep. Don't forget the Commanders and dreaded Eagle games. Not so easy! Its a split at best!!

 

[haleyrules]

I suspect our ability to win the division in '17 could come down to our two Giant games.

Ok...lets assume they are loses?? Its a good bet!?