Tyrone Tracy and the rest of the New York Giants’ run game have a significant opportunity to rebound on Thursday as they face a struggling Dallas Cowboys run defense. Dallas enters this matchup ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed per attempt and 31st in total rushing yards given up. Furthermore, the Cowboys have surrendered 19 rushing touchdowns, the most in the NFL. Over their last six games, only one team has managed fewer than 140 rushing yards against Dallas, with opponents averaging a staggering 163.3 rushing yards per game during this stretch. This presents a promising chance for the Giants to take advantage of a weakened Cowboys defense.
On the other side of the ball, the Giants’ secondary has benefitted from strong contributions from their second- and third-round draft picks, safety Tyler Nubin and nickel corner Andru Phillips. Phillips, in particular, has been exceptional in coverage, playing as one of the league’s top rookie cornerbacks. Fourth-round pick Theo Johnson, who has started throughout the season, is currently fourth on the team with 24 receptions. Meanwhile, Tyrone Tracy Jr., selected with the 166th overall pick, has emerged as one of the biggest steals of the draft, leading all rookies with 587 rushing yards.
As for other NFL updates after Week 12, Andru Phillips stands out as the rookie cornerback with the most defensive stops in coverage (17). Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Allen Robinson, who rank first and tenth in the league in targets, will face off on Thanksgiving when the Giants meet the Cowboys. Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II had a remarkable nine sacks through Week 7, but his sack total has stalled since then. One more sack would make him the third Giants player in the past 15 seasons to reach double-digit sacks before Week 12.
Following the Giants’ embarrassing 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, team leaders voiced frustrations about their performance, with some using the term “soft” to describe their play. Linebacker Bobby Okereke’s lack of effort on Tampa’s Bucky Irving’s 56-yard run in the fourth quarter exemplified this criticism. Head coach Brian Daboll addressed the team’s soft mentality in a meeting on Monday, aiming to confront the issues head-on.
The Giants’ situation is complicated further by the performance of general manager Joe Schoen, who has faced heavy criticism. His decisions, including the benching and release of quarterback Daniel Jones and the failure to retain running back Saquon Barkley—who has since thrived with the Philadelphia Eagles—have put a damper on his tenure. The Giants have regressed since their surprise playoff run in 2022, with their roster remaining thin on talent. With the team sitting at 2-9, drastic changes are likely necessary to turn things around.
In a different conversation, the debate around Eli Manning’s Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy is heating up. Though Manning is a semifinalist for the Class of 2025, it’s not guaranteed that he will be inducted in his first year of eligibility. A recent ESPN straw poll of 10 Hall of Fame voters revealed that while seven expect Manning to be inducted eventually, only two were confident he’d be a first-ballot selection. Some voters anticipate resistance, suggesting that Manning might have to wait for future years.
Meanwhile, in the Cowboys’ camp, wide receiver Brandin Cooks has been moved to the active roster after Caelen Carson was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined for multiple games. With Trevon Diggs still recovering from injury, Josh Butler is expected to start opposite DaRon Bland in the secondary.
Finally, in special teams, KaVontae Turpin continues to showcase his explosiveness. For the second consecutive week, he has produced a 60+ yard touchdown, first with a 64-yard reception against the Texans, followed by a 99-yard kick return touchdown against the Commanders. Known primarily for his return skills, Turpin is proving to be just as dangerous when given an opportunity on offense.
Cowboys fans, once known for their confident and loyal support, are now facing one of the most disappointing stretches in franchise history. This persistence despite the team’s failures speaks volumes about the deep-rooted loyalty of their fanbase.
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