Quick Slant: Is This the Night the Other Shoe Drops?

Cowboys @ Giants, Thursday @ 8:15 PM

The Giants have struggled to find footing with the Cowboys in recent seasons, losing ten of their last eleven games against Dallas by a combined score of 333-171. The Giants haven’t won the NFC East since 2011; while the Cowboys have won the division five times. Last year was especially bad, as the Cowboys won their two meetings by a combined 89-17. Still, they enter Thursday Night Football this season with the same record, 1-2.

Some competitive evenness seems to be boiling up, not just for Dallas and New York, but for all of the teams in the NFC East, where the Cowboys and Eagles have seemingly dominated for an eternity (Washington won the division in 2020 with a losing record while Dak Prescott was out with a broken ankle and the Eagles’ Carson Wentz fell apart; otherwise, the Cowboys and Eagles have won every season since 2015).

Washington won a courageous and decisive MNF matchup last week, and the Giants toppled the previously undefeated Bucs. As for Dallas? It depends on your perspective. They either got the doors blown off and piled up some empty stats in garbage time, or they showed a never-say-die brio, tying everything together in time to slide a little momentum in their back pocket for the next go-around. Every team in the East is either 2-1 or 1-2 and on Thursday, it’s time for the next go-around.

Cowboys’ Implied Team Total: 25.5

The Cowboys’ reputation is that of an offensive juggernaut with an incredible passing game. The Cowboys’ reality in 2024 is that of the 20th-ranked offense in EPA per play, the 27th-ranked offensive success rate, the 21^st-ranked offensive EPA per dropback, and the 22^nd-ranked offensive success rate on passes.

According to the advanced metrics, Dak Prescott is having, at best, a run-of-the-mill season. His fantasy points over expected (FPOE) is 13^th through three games, on pace for his worst rate since 2020. He ranks 25^th in quarterback rating, 19^th in adjusted net yards per attempts (ANY/A), 38^th in adjusted completion percentage (ADJ CMP %), 33^rd in highly accurate throw percentage, 30^th in turnover worthy throw percentage (TWT %), 31^st in PFF grade, and 25h in CPOE + EPA Composite.