Week 3 of the NFL has come and gone. There were big wins and big losses. Week 4 is sure to surprise us at every turn, and we will see our first game of the season in London. Last night’s Monday Night Football showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants was expected to entertain the masses but fell short. So, who won Monday night football? The Cowboys. As expected.
You wouldn’t assume lackluster play based solely on the score, but the first three quarters were shockingly dull.
The division rivals met at MetLife Stadium to showcase their skills in a slow start that nearly ended with me taking a nap. Every early possession was scoreless, with the first score of the game coming on a Dallas field goal with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter. Snoozefest.
That sums up the first quarter as each team took turns kicking field goals. First, it was Dallas, then New York, then Dallas again – field goal, field goal, field goal. Coming back from halftime, Graham Gano was able to match Maher’s two field goals with another field goal of his own.
To be tied halfway through the third quarter (6-6) was brutal to watch. It appeared no one told either team that they would be on prime time. Well, the defense knew because this was a game of defense vs. defense.
We didn’t see any real action until roughly five minutes were remaining in the third, and Saquon Barkley blasted off, running 21.11 miles per hour (the fourth fastest run by a running back so far this season according to NFL Next Gen Stats) into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game.
Finally, it Looks Like We Have a Game, Folks!
The Cowboys slowly clapped back with a touchdown by Ezekiel Elliott with seconds remaining in the third. Then, the fourth quarter belonged to Dallas. CeeDee Lamb redeemed himself after his epic dropped catch in the first quarter with a one-yard, one-handed catch in the end zone for a touchdown.
It wasn’t for lack of effort that this game was so slow and boring. The major stat lines for each team were nearly identical, but the biggest difference was in the offensive line plays made by the Giants. Jones wasn’t protected by his OL, and as a result, the defense sacked him five times during the game. He has a history of poor decision-making and is now 0-9 during prime-time games. Oof.
Game Notes
The Giants’ fate was sealed with a minute left in the fourth when Trevon Diggs intercepted a passing attempt by Jones.
• Daniel Jones finished the game with 196 yards, completing 20 of 37 attempts, zero touchdowns and one interception.
• Conversely, Cooper Rush finished the game with 215 yards, completing 21 of 31 attempts, one touchdown and zero interceptions.
• Tony Pollard rushed 13 times for 105 yards and looked strong. He couldn’t snag a touchdown, but he was the leading rusher for Dallas.
• We saw glimpses of Ezekiel Elliott of the past, but the flames have been extinguished. He rushed 15 times for 75 yards and one touchdown. You hate to see his talents disappear as they have.
• The Giants’ leading rusher was Saquon Barkley, who had 14 rushes for 81 yards and a lone touchdown. Sterling Shepard had five receptions for 49 yards and zero touchdowns.
Sadly, Shepard left the game after the final snap for the Giants. He’ll be out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. This oddly mirrored an injury he sustained against the Cowboys in 2020 when his season ended with a torn Achilles.
So, Who Won Monday Night Football?
You! You’re likely reading this because you didn’t catch the game. And I just saved you three hours of your life. Certainly not the fans watching. The game ended with a Cowboys win over the Giants, 23-16.
I’m trying to think of another way to describe the game, but all I can come up with is “boring.”
Hopefully, next week’s MNF game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers has big plays and tons of action. I’ll break down the game again next Tuesday. Until then, have a great week!
