It would take 4 quarters and three overtime drives to get Brian Schottenheimer his first victory as a head coach. The Cowboys beat the Giants 40-37 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, Brandon Aubrey would send the game to overtime with a 64-yard field goal and go on to win the game from 46-yards.
Dak Prescott told the media post game, “Aubrey needs his own special walkout music in AT&T Stadium when he trouts out for a kick, like an MLB closer.”
I truly feel that the Cowboys offense should have no excuses to not score. Get a good return from Turpin, or take the ball at the 30. You need 20 yards to be in Aubrey range.
Offense
Which brings me to one of my many frustrations with the offense today. At the 50, you threw a ball about 4 yards in bounds to Jake Ferguson. No timeouts, less than 10 seconds left. He was forced backwards out of bounds and the clock ran out. This missed an opportunity to get 3 before halftime.
Dak throws an interception to start the opening drive of the second half. A ball into double coverage intended for Ceedee Lamb. A pick that he’s been trying to throw all night. I feel like there were too many times where Dak locked onto his target, and even predetermined where he wanted to go with the ball before the snap.
He had some great tight window throws, the seam to Jake Ferguson and the touchdown pass to Kavontae Turpin.
But there were several that were too close for comfort including an interception drop that was made possible by the Giants linebacker breaking it up from the Giants DB. Though during the game tying drive in the 4th quarter, Lamb was thrown to in double coverage and came down with the ball…like the elite player he is.
Overall, offense needs to get into a rhythm and get the ball to Pickens earlier, he had a some big catches near the end of the game including his first TD of the year.
On the bright side, Javonte Williams is the clear cut #1 running back. He had a breakaway 30-yard run for the first touchdown of the day. With 97 yards total, there were plenty of runs where he just used power to keep moving forward.
Defense
Not a lot of great things to say about this group- this game shouldn’t have been so close, especially if you plan to make a playoff run or push for the division. Eberflus had his defense in zone coverage for 97% of the snaps today.
With a mixture of zone beaters and just not one player having a clue of where their assignment actually is…Russell Wilson looked like he was wearing a Seahawks helmet today.
Every drive in the 4th quarter ended with a score. But I saw a Cowboy secondary get burned one too many times. I had zero faith in them getting a stop when the Cowboys scored with 50 seconds left.
Multiple times Diggs lost track of Nabers. Donovan Wilson seemed to be always chasing someone. Kaiir Elam just put a hand up and prayed when the ball was in the air.
After every big pass play, it seemed the defense just looked at each other no one knew who’s man that was.
There is no world where Wan’Dale Robinson should have 142 yards. Lining up in the slot, he lived in between the corners and the safety. I will have to look at the film to see where the bust was on some of those plays.
Overall for the defense, I was disappointed that the defensive line couldn’t get to Wilson more. Giants have a terrible offensive line. But help is on the way
The line of credit, in overtime the Giants would only gain 3 yards in 6 plays giving the Cowboys an opportunity to win a game that they tried to lose. On the final New York drive, they go to the well of deep balls one too many times. And you wouldn’t believe the savior.
Penalties
One of the most amusing parts of this game…New York shot themselves in the foot over and over with bad penalties. Roughing the passer…False starts. You name it.
James Hudson, the Giants starting left tackle was penalized four times on the opening drive. two false starts and two 15-yard penalties. Somehow the Giants still managed to get 3 points! That goes to show how shredded the secondary was from the early jump.
And the sign was given at the very beginning when the Giants had a 67-yard kick return called back because of a holding call within the first ten yards.
Brett's Cowboys Corner 
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