Saquon Barkley of the Giants exits the field after his team's win. The Houston Texans at the New York Giants in a game played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on November 13, 2022. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Banged-up Giants must rely on run game to win 'Beckham Bowl'

By Colum Dell | Last updated 11/23/22

If a holiday divisional game and improving their playoff chances weren’t enough motivation, the Giants may have the added incentive of the return of a franchise icon. Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reportedly has narrowed his list to Dallas and New York, meaning Thursday’s game between the teams might as well be dubbed the “Beckham Bowl.”

The Giants, who aim to score their first offensive Thanksgiving TD since 1938, must get their ground game going to beat Dallas, which is a 10-point favorite, per oddschecker.com. However, given the team’s recent injuries, it will take all hands on deck to do so.

The Giants will be without four offensive linemen who have started games this season.

Giants not traveling to Dallas:

Joshua Ezeudu, Jon Feliciano, Shane Lemieux and Evan Neal

So starting OL could have ...

LT Andrew Thomas
LG Jack Anderson/Devery Hamilton
C Nick Gates
RG Mark Glowinski
RT Tyre Phillips/Matt Peart
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) November 23, 2022

The Cowboys have the league's best passing defense, but the Giants don't rely on the passing game, so New York could match up well.

Quarterback Daniel Jones only attempts 28.1 pass attempts per game, 29th in the NFL. He has four interceptions through 10 games, tied for 26th amongst quarterbacks.

New York's bottom-five receiving group took another hit after rookie Wan’Dale Robinson suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s 31-18 loss to Detroit. Robinson, who's out for the season, was having a breakout game, leading the Giants with 100 receiving yards on nine receptions before exiting.

On the bright side for the Giants, Dallas allows 131.6 rushing yards per game, seventh most in the NFL. Over the past three games, however, that number has jumped to 173.3 yards per game.

Big Blue will need Jones, who has rushed for 437 yards, to continue channeling his inner Michael Vick. In a 23-16 loss to Dallas in Week 3, Jones ran for 79 yards.

.@saquon’s nickname for @Daniel_Jones10 #Giants #NYG #saquon #TogetherBlue pic.twitter.com/N1rKsNWknJ
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) November 16, 2022

If Jones uses his legs to make plays and RB Saquon Barkley gets back on track, the “Dime and Dash” tandem could lead the Giants to an upset. Barkley had 81 yards on 14 carries against Dallas in the teams' first meeting.

It remains to be seen if the outcome of Thursday’s game will decide Beckham’s future. The Giants may not be able to offer the 30-year-old a better chance of a Super Bowl, but there's no question New York needs him more.

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