Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!
The outcome for the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys in week one comes down to whether Ezekiel Elliott plays or not. The Giants’ offense has looked stellar during the preseason, but their first string team hasn’t been on the field for very long.
Besides, star running back Saquon Barkley hasn’t played at all. Gaining him back and featuring the entire unit will allow them to perform at their peak level, but Dallas has a strong defense and could limit their production at home in Arlington.
I’m expecting wide receiver Sterling Shepard to have a big game against the Cowboys, simply because he’s itching to get back on the field and show why he deserved the big contract he earned this past off-season.
Shepard will be the clear-cut No.1 receiver for the Giants and quarterback Eli Manning. Working out of the slot and as a wideout will give Sterling the diversity and unpredictability, he needs to operate at a high-level.
Head coach Pat Shurmur will utilize him in different ways and put him in motion around the field. Also, the Giants will look to Evan Engram to dominate the seam and carve out big chunks of yardage.
Ultimately, though, it comes down to Manning and his efficiency from the pocket. General manager Dave Gettleman made it a priority to solidify the offensive line to provide Manning with more time in the pocket. Dallas has one of the better pass rushes in the game, which will pose problems for the Giants, but they will handle it better than in recent years. My prediction for this game is a Giants win, simply because the Cowboys will be without Ezekiel Elliott.
Final Score: Giants 27- Cowboys 24
Nonetheless-
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