What to Watch in the Dallas Cowboys season opener vs. New York Giants

On paper, Sunday’s season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants should be no contest.

The Cowboys have won 10 of their last 12 meetings against the Giants, including four straight.

The Cowboys and Giants have opened the season against each other 11 times and Cowboys are 10-1 in those contests.

The Cowboys have opened the season on Sunday Night Football four times since 2007 and the Cowboys have a mark of 3-1.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has a 10-2 career mark against the Giants. Not only is the most wins against any opponent since joining the Cowboys in 2016, he is riding a 10-game winning streak.

A win Sunday allow Prescott to surpass Cowboys legend Roger Staubach with the most consecutive wins vs. the Giants since 1950.

The Giants are in their second year under coach Brian Daboll and looking to take the next step after making the playoffs last year. Getting off the snide against the Cowboys a top priority in their locker room.

“I just want to keep on this streak, understanding it’s a good team, a different team but understanding what they did last year under Daboll with their offense, the progression, the defense, the players they’ve added,” Prescott said. “It’s a good team. Going to give them respect and just do what I’ve done every year, every time playing these guys, prepare my ass off going into this game and just be ready for whatever they have. But they do have my respect. It’s always fun playing New York, and definitely playing them up at their place. Probably the first time I’ve played them this early at their place so excited for that and the crowd, excited to be back in the game.”

The Cowboys will have some new things on tap for the Giants as well, considering that coach Mike McCarthy has taken over the play calling from the fired Kellen Moore and installed more West Coast concepts that Prescott has called the Texas Coast attack.

Prescott said he is comfortable and ready to go.

“I mean last year’s last year, honestly,” Prescott said. “Yeah I’m way more comfortable. I think it goes back into the spring and then the way that Mike installed plays. Something I feel like I’ve continued to harp on and just his detail in installing plays, his purpose of calling a play. My comfort level is at an all-time high.”

What to Watch for the Cowboys in Sunday’s game vs. Giants:

The Tony Pollard RB1 era begins

For the first time in his career dating back to high school in Memphis, Tony Pollard will be the starter and focal point at running back.

He shared the load in college at Memphis when he alternated between running back and receiver.

And he has served as Ezekiel Elliott’s back up since joining the Cowboys as a fourth-round draft pick in 2019.

With Elliott gone, it’s Pollard’s back field now as the Cowboys featured back.

And he can’t wait.

”I’ve been ready for this moment,” Pollard said. “The time is now.”

“I’m very excited,” he added. “I’m ready for the challenge, to be the lead back and show what I can do. . . I’m ready to make an impact. I’m good. Physically, mentally and emotionally, I’m good and ready to go.”

And for those who worry about Pollard holding up in pass protection, considering how well Elliott picked up blitzes to protect quarterback Dak Prescott, he’s ready for that, too.

”It’s critical to the success of the team and to the offense – making sure the RB, QB and O-line are on the same page with protections and pickups,” said Pollard. “We’ll have extra meetings on the sideline to make sure we see things the same, that we’re all [identifying] it all the same so that we’re on the same page.”

And if you still have concerns?

”Cue on the film,” Pollard said. “I’ve got plenty of film picking up blocks and picking up pressures.”

The debut of kicker Bryan Aubrey

One of the biggest unknowns heading into Sunday’s game against the Giants is the play of rookie kicker Bryan Aubrey, who will kick in a game on the road in a hostile environment for the first time in his career.

Aubrey played soccer in high school and in college at Notre Dame before deciding to become a kicker and spending the last two years in the USFL spring league.

The Cowboys have no question about his skill and ability after watching him perform in training camp and the preseason.

And he feels good as well.

“I had proven myself that I can do just about anything they need me to do on the field,” said Aubrey. “Every day as a kicker, you’re fighting to prove that you’re still the guy. So each and every day, whether that’s training camp, practices, a preseason game, or a regular-season week of preparation, it’s all the same. You prepare the same way, and hopefully, you get the same results.”

McCarthy is not worried and compared him to former Packers kicker Mason Crosby, who played 16 seasons with Green Bay.

“The first time I stood behind him and felt the ball come off his foot, I knew he was going to be OK,” McCarthy said. “The talent is there, he reminds me of a young Mason Crosby. Mason came into the league, and I hope he [Brandon Aubrey] has the same start to his career as Mason did. I feel good about him. He has an arsenal of kicks, which is important. I think that itself shows an ability to control the football. I have been very pleased with him.”

Will LG Tyler Smith play?

Another big question heading into the is the Cowboys depth on the offense line. That issue could be in play in Sunday’s season opener as left guard Tyler Smith missed practice all week with a hamstring strain.

The Cowboys feel good about the progress Smith has made in rehab this week. But he has never dealt with injury before and there is a question of whether the team should chance a multiple-week setback for one game, especially when there is a possibility of inclement weather at Giants Stadium.

McCarthy the medical and the rehab will be the determining factor.

But they are also comfortable with Chuma Edoga or Asim Richards if they have to play in place of Smith.

It’s a critical issue because of the strength of the Giants defense is in middle with defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams as strong as any duo on the league.

Another player up front to watch is left tackle Tyron Smith, the aging eight-time Pro Bowler who is back at is hold spot after missing the first 13 games last season with a hamstring injury and then playing right tackle for the final four.

Smith has struggled in camp with Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, as would anyone.

But he will be put to the test by the Giants 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, a young athletic beast himself.

Cowboys must stop Giants RB Saquon Barkley

The key matchup for the Cowboys defense is finding a way to contain running back Saquon Barkley.

Dating back to last year, the formula to slow down Micah Parsons and the Cowboys pass rush was to run the ball right at them.

The Cowboys had more run attempts against them than any team in the league in 2022.

The Cowboys drafted nose tackle Mazi Smith in the first round to improve their run defense. The 328-pound rookie will play in tandem with the 325-pound Johnathan Hankins on running downs.

“It’s nice to have like two big solid guys that can push the pocket,” Hankins said. “It is definitely our forte and something we got to do this year, do a better job at winning first and second downs. As you can see, last year we had the most running attempts from a team. So that’s one thing we want to buckle down and try to be more of a win for us to be able to let them guys eating even more on the outside.”