This is an odd game to write about from a defensive standpoint because there are games when circumstances do not allow them to face a full challenge. It appeared pretty early that the Giants were well aware of their current situation — they have very few WR options that would be considered up to NFL standard as threats and they have significant offensive line challenges that are making things difficult on a week-by-week basis.
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The good news for the coaching staff in New York is that they face teams with similar challenges all of the time. But, on Thanksgiving, they had to play an NFL power on the road and a team that was told all week that Saquon Barkley will attack your weakness at stopping the run. Dallas would take that personally.
We ended up with what we thought we might get: A New York team that would take some shots early and hope to get a lead — but also do everything with a spirit of “let’s survive this and not jeopardize a good season by getting our QB hit too much.”
As we look back at games like that, they are difficult to fully evaluate.
For the most part, the Cowboys had a very average performance (for them) on defense. They did not allow any big days and did not allow much production. As you look at the drive chart, there was little to suggest they accomplished a whole lot, aside from one large drive to start the second quarter when the stadium was uneasy.
Other than that, it was some Dallas turnovers that gave them life, some short fields and just not much.
Then, a cosmetic drive very late in the game for the Giants to beat the point spread and to barely get them to 300 yards and everybody quickly looked at the final stats, shrugged and grabbed another plate of food.
We really enjoy Thanksgiving when the Cowboys defense just puts in a normal strong effort and moves to the next one with barely a facial expression.
There are 17 games on the Cowboys schedule and that was one of them. There are no massive issues to report and reach December still feeling like one of the league’s true heavyweights.
And heavyweights should make pretty quick work of the Giants offense in 2022.
One noteworthy item on the undercard Thursday was a matchup between Micah Parsons and Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas.
This was a matchup worth enjoying because while both fan bases are excited to have their guy, both players are the types you want to make sure you have locked in for a long time. Thomas is having a heck of a year and although it is sometimes difficult to get a clear view on objective comparison stats like allowing sacks or pressures, we know that the 23-year-old is a fantastic young piece and the Giants made a fine decision to invest in him in 2020.
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In the build-up to the showdown, Giants folks were quick to point out that Parsons had never beaten him for a sack. This, of course, is probably way too small of a sample size, but fine. They had only played two other times and without going back to both meetings in New York, it seems we should allow a few years before we try to label someone as some sort of Parsons-stopper.
Regardless, it was a fun matchup to lock in on and you knew Parsons was waiting for his chances, despite the Giants’ clear plan to A) give help to Thomas quite a bit and B) get the ball out quickly to not allow Daniel Jones to take shots in a game that was going to be difficult to win.
Parsons ended up with two sacks — as he has now done six times this season — and both were against Thomas. Thomas was only charged with one by PFF (that tracks these things closely) and the flu was also given an assist for Parsons’ win as we peruse how the game was covered in New York.
Regardless, Thomas is a heck of a player and so is Parsons and these matchups within the game are what make our sport so enjoyable. NFL.com’s Brian Baldinger is a must-follow on Twitter because he dives into these types of scraps at a level only he can and showed us this brilliantly below:
.@dallascowboys @MicahhParsons11 v @Giants #AndrewThomas was a good match up of best v best. Micah was almost exclusively used at RDE (37/43) and affected the #Giants in so many ways #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/z3gQK7syio
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 25, 2022
Love Baldy. With the two sacks, Parsons continues to work his way up the ladder of all-time single-season sack leaders in Cowboys history. With many games to play, he is still a threat to get to the top this year.
Player | Season | Sacks |
|---|---|---|
2008 | 20 | |
2011 | 19.5 | |
2010 | 15.5 | |
2017 | 14.5 | |
1986 | 14 | |
2007 | 14 | |
1985 | 13 | |
2021 | 13 | |
2007 | 12.5 | |
1994 | 12.5 | |
1983 | 12.5 | |
1984 | 12.5 | |
2022 | 12 | |
1996 | 12 | |
1985 | 12 |
The fact that we can see two Parsons’ seasons on this list already in his only two professional years should tell us plenty about how special that young man is. We are lucky to watch him do what he does.
The other challenge on the day was going to be to deal with Barkley. Entering the game, he was 47 yards from a 1,000-yard season and seemed assured of getting that much against the NFL’s 26th-best rushing defense.
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He did not.
Next Gen chart: Saquon Barkley
We don’t fully know why he wasn’t used more, but the Cowboys were sure not to let him get much done. There was one 10-yard run, but for the most part, Dallas made sure that it picked up where it left off with Dalvin Cook and now a couple games after Green Bay, the panic has subsided somewhat about Dallas and the inability to stop the run.
With Jonathan Taylor next, the challenges will continue.
Weekly data box: Week 12, New York Giants
We were awfully spoiled against Minnesota, so these numbers are less jaw-dropping. The Cowboys won a game while losing the turnover battle and not getting a single takeaway. Still, anytime you stop third downs all day and don’t allow a team more than 300 yards in a sport where 400 is the goal, you walk away pretty pleased.
It was a typical Cowboys workman-like effort against a team that just didn’t bring too much to the table.
Splash plays: Week 12
Just 19 splash plays in this game, but again, the Cowboys weren’t really on the field too much. The Cowboys offense dominated the ball and took the enthusiasm away once it stopped turning over the ball. For the defense, we liked the game from Leighton Vander Esch and continue to claim that his season performance is flying under the radar and not being talked about enough.
Player | Snaps | Total Splash Plays |
|---|---|---|
566 | 38 | |
423 | 31 | |
619 | 20 | |
678 | 20 | |
592 | 19 | |
342 | 18 | |
373 | 17 | |
230 | 16 | |
165 | 15 | |
424 | 13 | |
652 | 12 | |
320 | 10 |
Looking at the season leaderboard, I wonder if the Cowboys are trying to sort out their linebacker options in 2023 and if Vander Esch might be an option there, too? He has probably earned it.
Cowboys pass rush
Just wanted to show you again how little Dallas blitzes. In this game, 35 pass situations and just four pressure calls which means that the Cowboys blitzed 11 percent of the time. Smother the passing options and try to block Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence, who we have barely mentioned, led Dallas with seven pressures. He is very good, too.
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Next Gen throw chart: Daniel Jones
As you can see, Jones definitely was throwing the ball, but he was trying to hit quick and not ask his protection to over-extend. Lots of quick work to the flats, beyond the two deeper shots to Darius Slayton.
The Giants did not have the manpower they needed to win in Dallas. They know that. This is Year 1 of that rebuild and I suspect they will be heard from in the years to come because I like that coaching staff.
Film study
Let’s go through these five plays, but keep in mind the NFL tracking chip on the ball was acting up last Thursday.
Qtr: 1 – 10:47 – first-and-10 – DAL 17 – D.Jones sacked at DAL 24 for -7 yards (D.Armstrong).
This is what Jones has to work with against the Cowboys’ four-man rush. It looks like the Giants have a plan with the orbit motion from Richie James (80) and using Barkley (26) to leak out to the left flat. With three other targets working the end zone area, they have five guys working against the Dallas secondary and Jones has to get the ball out. Now that you push play, see if you can find a place for him to go with the ball. This is what we call a coverage sack and how you beat teams in the playoffs. Get there with four, leave a quarterback with no good options and finish the play.
Qtr: 3 – 5:40 – second-and-5 – NY 41 – D.Jones sacked at NYG 40 for -1 yards (M.Parsons).
Pretty similar here. I keep showing you these plays because this was this game. You cover guys up and allow your defensive line to quickly show how far the Giants have to go to deal with this defense. This is what we call a clear mismatch and honestly why the Giants coaching staff quickly looked like it was eager to finish this game. If you can’t block your opponent and have no coverage defeaters, you are up against it pretty badly. Parsons got this sack, but these are all total team defensive plays. It’s exactly how the Cowboys go about their business against teams that don’t have answers.
Qtr: 3 – 4:11 – fourth-and-1 – NY 45 – D.Jones pass incomplete short right to S.Barkley [D.Wilson].
The more I look at this play, the more I think this might be a touchdown with a better throw. It looks like Vander Esch has Barkley by himself and the Giants wanted to clear out the right side and isolate one versus the other and get a rub or bump on Vander Esch on the way by to give Barkley an even bigger advantage to the spot. With Jayron Kearse (27) deep, maybe Jones can get Barkley if the throw is better, but I do not fancy Vander Esch against Barkley in the open field. This ball was underthrown badly and Barkley should have caught it for a first down. But, the real story is that if Jones hits him in the hands on the run, this might change the game as a house call. Keep in mind, the Cowboys led 14-13 at this point, so this is a pretty big deal. Also, please note, the Giants only have 10 guys on the field on this play! Check this one in the banana stand.
Qtr: 4 – 4:43 – second-and-10 – DAL 38 – D.Jones sacked at DAL 48 for -10 yards (M.Parsons).
Here was the sack that showed Parsons can deal with Thomas. In this clash of the titans, it is simply a matter of Parsons getting there too quickly and looking like he is at a different speed than every other player on the planet. Truly special player who wanted to get his 12th sack before the day was done. There are only so many ways to say it: He is built different.
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Qtr: 4 – 3:17 – fourth-and-9 – DAL 37 – D.Jones pass incomplete short right to I.Hodgins [D.Armstrong].
Finally, the last gasp fourth down to chase this game. Five-man pressure and Jones is throwing it with Dorance Armstrong (92) hanging on him again. There is just no place to go with the ball. If it looked like the Giants weren’t in a real hurry in the fourth quarter, it is because they weren’t. They sort of had accepted their fate by then. Dallas had too much.
(Top photo of Micah Parsons: Jerome Miron / USA Today)