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Week 1 Game Recap: New York Giants 35, Dallas Cowboys 45
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
The Giants lost the game, and saw a number of important players suffer injuries. The most significant from a fantasy perspective was Brandon Jacobs who left the game late in the first half after being struck on the knee. He will undergo an MRI. Osi Umenyiora also hurt his knee and left the game in the first quarter, and so Michael Strahan saw more action than had been anticipated. Kevin Dockery suffered an ankle injury, and Eli Manning missed the Giants' final possession due to a bruised shoulder. Lawrence Tynes received treatment near the end of the game and was apparently suffering from cramp.
Manning played extremely well, throwing four touchdowns and accumulating over 300 passing yards. Plaxico Burress was his main target, and he caught three of the touchdown passes. Derrick Ward was responsible for the other one. Amani Toomer was heavily involved, catching nine passes. Jeremy Shockey was an integral part of the offense in the first half but he did not register a catch after the break.
Brandon Jacobs left the game in the first half after carrying the ball just six times. Derrick Ward took over at running back and accounted for over 100 total yards and a touchdown. He looked quite effective at times.
The Giants had a bad night defensively, allowing six touchdowns. The secondary was beaten three times in the second half by deep passes for scores. Antonio Pierce and Gibril Wilson each registered eight solo tackles, and Wilson also had an interception.
| Dallas Cowboys |
Terence Newman and Terry Glenn were inactive for the Cowboys, and Jason Ferguson had to leave the game after being injured during the first half.
Tony Romo had a huge game, throwing for four touchdowns and running in another. Terrell Owens caught two touchdown passes, while Jason Witten led the team in receiving yardage and added another touchdown. Sam Hurd scored on his only reception of the game.
The Cowboys were able to run the ball effectively, especially in the second half. The duties were split between Julius Jones and Marion Barber. Jones got most of the early carries and Barber saw most of the second half action. The Giants' defense tired in the second half and Barber was able to score a touchdown and average almost six yards per carry.
The Cowboys had to shuffle their secondary due to Newman being inactive. Jacques Reeves got the start and he was targeted often by Eli Manning. Plaxico Burress repeatedly got the better of Reeves throughout the game. Roy Williams was very involved, registering eight solo tackles.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 28 - 41 - 312 - 4 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Manning had a very good game, and kept the Giants in with a chance until late in the game. He found Plaxico Burress for a 60 yard touchdown on the opening drive, throwing a perfect deep pass. On the following drive, Manning connected with Amani Toomer on a 35 yard pass. Toomer's foot was inches beyond the back of the end zone and the touchdown was negated. Manning threw an interception on the Giants' fourth drive but it was not his fault. Burress slipped and fell before the ball arrived, allowing Jacques Reeves to make the interception. Manning did not lose confidence in Burress, finding him on the following drive for a 27 yard gain and then again for a four yard score. On the Giants' final possession of the half, Manning almost led the team to another touchdown. He found Steve Smith free in the end zone, but threw the ball too wide and Smith caught it out of bounds. Manning found Burress for a third touchdown in the second half, and it appeared that Burress could beat Reeves at will. Manning's fourth score came on a dump off pass to Derrick Ward which resulted in a nine yard touchdown reception. Manning also involved Jeremy Shockey, finding him five times in the first half. Amani Toomer saw almost as many targets as Burress and had a number of big gains. Five of his nine receptions resulted in a first down, and he did not appear to be slowed at all by his ACL surgery.
Manning bruised his shoulder mid way through the fourth quarter and later gave way to Jared Lorenzen. He'll have tests Monday but Manning thought it was just bruised.
| QB Jared Lorenzen, Pass: 1 - 3 - 7 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Lorenzen entered the game on the Giants' final possession after Eli Manning left due to a bruised right shoulder. Lorenzen completed one of his three passes and then turned the ball over on downs after trying to run on fourth down.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 13 - 89 - 0, Rec: 4 - 27 - 1 (5 targets) |
Ward saw a bigger workload than expected due to an injury to Brandon Jacobs late in the second quarter. Ward took over as the main ball carrier in the second half and did well. His biggest gain came on the Giants' third drive of the second half when he broke through the line and ran for 44 yards to set up a field goal. He had two other first down runs and caught one of his targets for a ten yard gain and another first down. If the injury to Brandon Jacobs is serious, Ward looks capable of contributing on a regular basis.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 6 - 26 - 0 |
Jacobs gained 26 yards on six carries, and had a two yard run negated by a penalty. Late in the first half a player collided with the side of his knee, causing him to leave the game. Jacobs was unable to return and will undergo an MRI to discover the severity of the injury.
| RB Reuben Droughns, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Droughns was used as a fullback and only had one carry in the game. He gained five yards for a first down. Droughns was targeted once but did not make the catch.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 9 - 91 - 0 (11 targets) |
Toomer looked to be an important part of the Giants' receiving game, and he did not appear to be slowed by his recent recovery from ACL surgery. Toomer caught all five balls thrown his way in the first half. Two were for first downs. One catch was negated because his foot was a few inches beyond the back of the end zone, or he would have been credited with a 35 yard touchdown reception. Toomer caught five of his six second half targets. He had gains of six yards, 21 yards, and 14 yards for first downs. Manning looked for Toomer 11 times in the game.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 8 - 144 - 3 (12 targets) |
Burress caught a deep pass on the Giants' opening drive, resulting in a 60 yard touchdown. He made little contribution on the next three drives, and was responsible for Manning's only interception after he slipped and fell when Manning targeted him. Burress redeemed himself on the following drive by making a good 27 yard reception before scoring on a four yard catch. He was very involved in the second half, catching passes of 20 yards and eight yards for first downs on the opening possession of the half. Burress almost caught an inaccurate pass to end the drive, but he knocked it up in the air with one hand and couldn't make the catch in the end zone. Burress caught his third touchdown pass of the game on the Giants' penultimate possession.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 3 - 16 - 0 (6 targets) |
Smith was targeted once in the first half. He made the 27 yard catch but it was out of bounds wide of the end zone. Smith was not at fault. He did drop his first target of the second half, but Manning looked for him more often than in the opening half. Smith ended with three receptions, including one four yard catch for a first down.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 5 - 41 - 0 (7 targets) |
Shockey was effective in the first half, catching five of his six targets. He converted two first downs and dragged defenders with him to gain as many yards as possible on each reception. Manning only went to him once in the second half but the pass was incomplete.
| TE Michael Matthews (1 targets) |
Matthews was targeted once in the end zone but he dropped the pass.
| PK Lawrence Tynes 3 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 11 points |
Tynes made all three of his field goal attempts, converting from 44 yards, 48 yards, and 24 yards. He also made two extra point attempts. Tynes aborted his first extra point try due to a bobbled snap.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Giants struggled against the run, especially in the second half. The hot conditions may have contributed. The defense allowed 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a nine yard score from Tony Romo.
| NYG Pass Defense |
The Giants gave up seven gains of 20 yards or more, and allowed four touchdowns through the air. The defense was particularly weak over the middle, and was exploited by Jason Witten. Justin Tuck registered the only sack for the team, and Gibril Wilson had an interception late in the game.
| QB Tony Romo, Pass: 15 - 24 - 345 - 4 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 11 - 1 |
Romo had a huge game, especially in the second half. He started poorly, and was unable to connect with Terrell Owens in the first half. Three of his five passes to Owens were uncatchable. Romo did have some success in the first half due to Jason Witten. Whenever Romo needed a completion, he seemed to look for Witten over the middle. Witten caught six of seven targets in the first half, including three for first downs. He finished the half with an 11 yard touchdown reception and was the Cowboys' most targeted player in the half. Romo only threw ten passes in the second half, but every reception was important. All seven completions were for a first down or a touchdown. He found Terrell Owens for scores of 22 yards and 47 yards. The longest touchdown was caught by Sam Hurd for 51 yards on his only target of the second half. Romo also scored on the ground on a nine yard run.
| RB Julius Jones, Rush: 16 - 66 - 0, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets) |
Jones started the game for the Cowboys and had the majority of carries in the first half. He gained one first down on the ground and caught his only target for an 11 yard gain and another first down. He did not see much action in the second half, but he was able to break free on one carry for a 21 yard gain which resulted in a first down.
| RB Marion Barber III, Rush: 11 - 65 - 1, Rec: 1 - 29 - 0 (1 targets) |
Barber did not see any action until the last two minutes of the first half. He caught his only target for a 29 yard gain and a first down, and then ended the drive with an 18 yard touchdown run. His role seemed to be the same as it was last year, and he saw most of his action in the second half. He ran hard and averaged just under six yards per carry.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rec: 3 - 87 - 2 (9 targets) |
Owens was targeted early in the game, and Romo looked for him five times in the opening half. Unfortunately, the passes were poorly thrown and three were uncatchable. Owens finally caught his first pass on the opening possession of the second half. He gained 18 yards for a first down and followed it with a 22 yard reception for a touchdown. Owens turned his next reception into a 47 yard touchdown, but his last target was a poorly thrown pass and it was intercepted before it reached him.
| WR Patrick Crayton, Rec: 3 - 51 - 0 (4 targets) |
Crayton started the game due to the absence of Terry Glenn. Romo only looked for Crayton once in the opening half, and the result was a 12 yard gain for a first down. Crayton was targeted deep on the opening drive of the second half, but the ball was out of bounds when he caught it. Crayton made catches of 14 yards and 25 yards for first downs, and both drives resulted in touchdowns by Terrell Owens.
| WR Sam Hurd, Rec: 1 - 51 - 1 (2 targets) |
Hurd was targeted once in each half. The first pass was uncatchable in the end zone. Hurd was responsible for the Cowboys' longest touchdown of the game, catching a 51 yard pass from Tony Romo.
| TE Jason Witten, Rec: 6 - 116 - 1 (8 targets) |
Witten was very effective in this game. He was the leading receiver for the Cowboys in the first half. His first three receptions were all for first downs over the middle. Witten ended the half on a high note by making an 11 yard touchdown reception. He was only targeted once after the interval, but it resulted in a 38 yard gain. Witten seemed to have a bigger role with Terry Glenn inactive.
| PK Nick Folk 1 - 1 FG, 6 - 6 XP, 9 points |
Folk made his only field goal attempt, and was perfect on his six extra point attempts.
| DAL Rush Defense |
The Cowboys allowed 124 net rushing yards, but most of the damage was done on one play when Derrick Ward gained 44 yards. The defense contained the Giants apart from that one lapse, and the Giants were unable to score on the ground.
| DAL Pass Defense |
Eli Manning had a big game. The Cowboys missed Terence Newman, and his replacement, Jacques Reeves, was targeted frequently by the Giants. Manning found Plaxico Burress for three touchdowns as Reeves struggled to cover him. The pass rush was not much of a threat and Manning was only sacked twice. The second sack will not show up in the box score as it came on a two point conversion try which the Cowboys managed to prevent.
