Will The Dallas Cowboys Dominance Against the New York Giants Continue in Week 2?

The Dallas Cowboys are 15-3 against the New York Giants since 2016, Dak Prescott’s first year in the league. They’ve swept the series since 2021, but the Cowboys shouldn’t expect Sunday’s Week 2 showdown to be a cakewalk.

The Giants may lack the offensive firepower of the Eagles, but they counter with a dominant defensive line—arguably the best in the NFL—and a rising superstar at wide receiver in Malik Nabers.

After letting Week 1 in Philadelphia slip through their fingers, the Cowboys can’t afford to come out flat against New York. If the Cowboys want to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole, they’ll need to come out ready for a tougher-than-expected test against the Giants in Week 2.

Cowboys v. Giants, Week 2: Key Matchups To Watch On Sunday

Can Dallas Keep The Run Game Rolling?

Surprising rushing success against Philadelphia

The most surprising development from Week 1 was the Cowboys’ ability to run the football. Going up against a stout Eagles front—albeit without Jalen Carter—most expected Dallas to struggle on the ground. Instead, they turned in a very respectable 119 yards on 22 carries, good for 5.4 yards per attempt. It wasn’t dominant, but it was efficient. The Cowboys finished with a 59% rushing success rate, second-best in the NFL for Week 1—a staggering stat for a team many thought wouldn’t be able to move the ball on the ground.

That efficiency kept Prescott and the offense ahead of the sticks and out of obvious passing situations, exactly what Brian Schottenheimer wants. It also neutralized the Eagles’ pass rush and allowed Dak to operate comfortably from the pocket. The Cowboys would love to be able to repeat that formula in Week 2, but doing so against this Giants front will be no small task.

Expect light boxes, and Dallas to take advantage of them

Dallas will likely see a lot of two-high shell coverage and light boxes from New York. Most teams won’t have the personnel to match up with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in single-high coverage, so keeping both safeties back becomes the safer bet. But that also opens the door for Dallas to run into favorable looks. If the Cowboys can stay on schedule by running effectively on early downs, they’ll not only move the ball. They’ll take the teeth out of the Giants’ pass rush.

That’s exactly what happened to New York last week. Coming into 2025, the Giants’ defensive line was widely considered the best in football. But they were gashed by Washington for 220 yards—102 of those coming on first down alone—while allowing 6.9 yards per carry. Their interior defensive line, in particular, got worked over, especially when Dexter Lawrence was off the field.

That’s a problem against a Dallas offensive line whose strength lies in the interior. If Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and rookie Tyler Booker can impose their will in the middle, it could soften up the entire Giants defense. Winning that battle would give Javonte Williams and company clean lanes and force New York to bring help into the box. Which, in turn, would open up play-action opportunities and big plays down the sideline.

Matchup to watch: Dexter Lawrence vs. Tyler Booker

Rookie right guard Tyler Booker avoided a true “welcome to the NFL” moment in Week 1 thanks to Jalen Carter’s early ejection. He won’t be so lucky this time. Lawrence is a massive (6-4, 340), disruptive force inside, and if he works Booker like a speed bag, it could blow up Dallas’ run game before it gets going.

Can The Cowboys’ Tackles Keep Prescott Clean?

The Giants bring a trio of dangerous edge rushers in Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and rookie Abdul Carter. Burns was the one bright spot for New York in an otherwise forgettable opener. He consistently pressed the edges, finishing with two sacks and multiple pressures. He’ll likely line up across from Tyler Guyton, who held his own in Week 1, but wasn’t truly tested. That changes this week.

On the other side, Terence Steele will have the pleasure of blocking Thibodeaux and Carter, both freak athletes capable of winning with speed or power. The tackles don’t have to be perfect, but they do need to hold up long enough for Dak to stay in rhythm. If the protection breaks down and Prescott gets happy feet, the passing game could stall quickly.

If there’s one area where New York holds a decided advantage, it’s here. Guyton and Steele both entered 2025 with a lot to prove, and they’re the guys you circle when devising a game plan. Guyton was a major disappointment as a rookie, and Steele hasn’t quite looked the same since his knee injury. New York has the pass rush firepower to make life miserable for Dak. How the edges hold up will go a long way in determining who comes out on top in Week 2.

Matchup to watch: Brian Burns vs. Tyler Guyton

Guyton passed his first test against a tame group of edge rushers in Philadelphia. Burns is a different animal. The second-year tackle broke his leg early in training camp, and his availability for Week 1 was in question. He played—and looked fine—but this Giants pass rush group presents an entirely different challenge than Philadelphia did. If Guyton can’t hold up, Prescott won’t have time to exploit a very beatable secondary.

What Will The Cowboys Secondary Look Like?

Week 1’s matchup against Philadelphia might’ve fooled you into thinking the Cowboys’ secondary played well. That belief would be incorrect. They simply weren’t tested much by an Eagles team that prefers to pound the football. But the Giants don’t have that luxury. If New York wants to move the ball against Dallas, they’ll need to generate explosive plays, and Malik Nabers gives them their best shot.

Nabers is an exceptional route runner who consistently wins at the catch point and is deadly after the catch. His Week 1 stat line doesn’t pop (five catches for 71 yards), but one number does. 12. As in 12 targets. A volume that speaks for itself. The Giants know where their offensive bread is buttered. Expect a similar target share against a Dallas secondary that’s already dealing with injuries and remains one of the weaker units on the team.

Daron Bland is expected to miss Sunday’s game with a foot injury, which leaves the secondary thinner than it already is. Trevon Diggs is still ramping back up after last year’s knee surgery, and Kaiir Elam—acquired from Buffalo after failing to live up to his first-round pedigree—gave up a 50-yard bomb to Jahan Dotson last week.

Russell Wilson’s best year’s are long behind him, but he can still throw a deep ball. If the Cowboys can’t pressure him and force quicker decisions, Nabers will have opportunities to torch mismatches in coverage.

Matchup to watch: Malik Nabers vs. Kaiir Elam

Elam showed flashes during training camp but looked more like the guy Buffalo gave up on last Sunday. He allowed five receptions at nearly 15 yards a pop, including that 50-yard deep shot to Dotson. With Bland out and Diggs still working back to form, Elam becomes the obvious target. The Giants will likely move Nabers around to hunt for mismatches, and Elam is the guy they’ll be looking to isolate.

Cowboys v. Giants Week 2 Prediction: The Cowboys Simply Don’t Lose To The Giants At Home

You have to go back to September of 2016 to find the last time the Cowboys lost to the Giants at AT&T Stadium—Dak Prescott’s first NFL start. Don’t expect that to happen this week either.

The Cowboys have owned the Giants this decade, and they enter Week 2 as the better team. If Dallas can play clean and stick to their newfound identity, they should have no problem coming out on top. That starts with the run game. If the Cowboys can control the line of scrimmage and stay ahead of the sticks, it’ll take the bite of of New York’s pass rush and keep Prescott in rhythm.

Defensively, Dallas needs to limit explosive plays. Russell Wilson isn’t the quarterback he once was, but he can still hit the deep ball, and Malik Nabers is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. With Daron Bland out and question marks across the secondary, the Cowboys can’t afford busted coverages or missed tackles.

There’s no such thing as a must-win game in Week 2, but this Cowboys matchup against the Giants carries real weight in a loaded NFC. They need to handle business on Sunday. Expect them to do just that.

Prediction: Cowboys 30, Giants 19