The Cowboys and Giants are both 1-2 but definitely feel differently about that…
plus we wave goodbye to Oakland.
Which NFC East Team Needs This More?
What Happened: Tonight’s edition of Thursday Night Football features a classic NFC East showdown, and two teams that might be surprised by where they are in the standings after three weeks of play.
The Cowboys cruised to victory in Week 1 over the Browns, but nothing has gone right since. Losses to the Saints (loss doesn’t even do that one justice) and Ravens have Mike McCarthy’s team looking up in the standings at the…well that can’t be. Washington?
Meanwhile, the Giants were run off their home turf by Minnesota then let down by their offense against the Commanders before taking care of business against Cleveland. An 0-??? start seemed in the cards after that Vikings beatdown, but Brian Daboll has gotten his team into the win column, largely due to Malik Nabers being a superstar already.
Why It Matters: Hitting Week 4 with a figure higher than zero in the W column probably means it’s not quite desperation time yet. Heck, that might even qualify as “Expectations Exceeded” for Big Blue.
The Cowboys are a different story. Their playoff odds are already under 30% per ESPN’s FPI. A loss tonight would be disastrous.
It’s also unlikely. Dak Prescott is 10-5 on Thursday Night Football, while Daniel Jones, his Giants counterpart, is a totally blemished 0-5. Under coach Brian Daboll, the Giants are 8-4 against the spread as home underdogs. Bumping that total up to nine is probably the best they’ll get tonight.
What We’re Watching Today
Rangers at Athletics (3:37 PM ET) – Disgracefully, this will be the Athletics’ final home game in Oakland. (Probably.) The challenge in this one: locating a fan in the stands (there will be plenty) that isn’t holding a NSFW-sign about Athletics owner John Fisher (Where’s Waldo, but harder.)
Cowboys at Giants (8:15 PM ET) – Calling it right now: if the Giants pull this one out, Bill Belichick is the head coach of the Cowboys by Saturday afternoon.
The Look Ahead
Devin Singletary ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN – The Boys have gotten absolutely gashed on the ground through three games. By expected points added (EPA) per play allowed, they have the worst rush defense in the NFL so far. Hello Devin Singletary! The Giants back has gotten double-digit carries in all three games and found the end zone in each of the last two New York games. At plus-money, this is way too tempting to not take.
