It certainly wasn’t a pretty loss on opening night, but the Cowboys have a lot to look forward to.
Despite a 24-20 final score, owner Jerry Jones praised his team. “I’m so proud of this team, I really am proud” (NBC Sports) he said.
For Schottenheimer, a head coaching debut against the reigning Super Bowl champions could’ve gone much worse. “That’s how a division game should feel, you know, we had good moments, they had good moments,” said Schottenheimer in the post-game conference on CeeDee Lamb, “I don’t worry about CeeDee, he’s going to be fine. What a great player.”
Besides the glaring issues that snuffed the Cowboys’ momentum, the team looks like it’s in a good spot. Javonte Williams (54 yds, 2 Tds) and Ceedee Lamb (110 yards) looked good, even with Lamb’s two drops late in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys’ defense was interesting, to say the least. While they did manage to hold Jalen Hurts to 152 passing yards, his two touchdowns on the ground and another from Saquon Barkley highlighted the Cowboys’ lack of a run defense.
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Week 1 is the First of Many
With losses being handed to heavy hitters like the Chiefs, Lions, and Ravens, Week 1 was really a toss-up in terms of who came to play.
While it is important to observe the decisions made by players and coaches at the start of the season, it should be noted that Week 1 is indeed Week 1. Guys are still settling in with their new teams (shoutout Matt Prater), and Dallas is no exception to that.
Miles Sanders and Williams both showed their strengths and weaknesses (like Sanders’ fumble the play after breaking free for 49 yards), but even the veterans took some time to come back, too. Neither quarterback had a passing touchdown, and neither passed for more than 188 yards. That’s not to say that either team played sloppily, but it is a reminder that both teams have room to build on what happened in the game.
The Cowboys should be excited to play the Giants
The Cowboys’ defense wasn’t necessarily good against Philadelphia, but the fact that they didn’t get blown out altogether should be a source of hope. Looking towards the Giants, the Cowboys should not have a problem on the defensive side of the ball in Week 2.
The Giants currently rank dead last in points scored, having only put up six points, via two field goals, against the Commanders. Russell Wilson also completed only 45% of his passes, so if the Cowboys can just improve on defending the run, they should be fine.
This Cowboy’s Offense Has Very High Upside
Week 1 showed that the Cowboys’ offense has the potential to be much better than people anticipated. The fact that the Cowboys were able to do put together sustained drives against a Super Bowl level defense is inspiring.
This offense has every reason to ball out against the Giants. Multiple running backs capable of long runs and scoring touchdowns, and numerous high-level receivers capable of making game-changing plays, combined with a high-level quarterback, should be all the Cowboys need to get the win.
The Cowboys’ first home game should be a display of what they can do on both sides of the ball, and should confirm fans’ hopes about the rest of the season. Opening the first game against the Eagles was not in the team’s favor, but the next two should be easier. After the Giants, the Cowboys will travel to the Windy City to play Chicago.
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