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| Other Week 2 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at JAX | BAL at SD | CAR at ATL | CIN at GB | CLE at DEN | HOU at TEN | IND at MIA | MIN at DET |
| NE at NYJ | NO at PHI | NYG at DAL | OAK at KC | PIT at CHI | SEA at SF | STL at WAS | TB at BUF |
Week 2 Game Recap: New York Giants 33, Dallas Cowboys 31
New York Giants
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 25 - 38 - 330 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
There was supposed to be a stellar quarterback performance on Sunday Night Football in Dallas in Week 2, but few would have guessed it would be Eli Manning outplaying Tony Romo. Manning showed great poise and strong pocket presence as he methodically moved the Giants down the field with regularity by hitting Steve Smith and Mario Manningham 10 times each for a combined 284 yards and two scores -- just to those two receivers. Manning picked apart the Cowboys and took what Dallas gave to him, which often was 10-20 yard passes, but he also hit the long pass on occasion to both receivers. Manning should build on this performance and have another strong game next week against a bad Tampa Bay secondary.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 16 - 58 - 0 (1 targets) |
Jacobs was kept in check by the Dallas Cowboy defense in Week 2. The Cowboys swarmed the offensive line and stunted enough to patch holes in the first half, keeping Jacobs to just eight yards on eight attempts by intermission. Jacobs improved to 8-50 after halftime, getting to the second level once for a long gain of 31 yards after breaking three tackles around the right corner. Expect him to do better next week against Tampa Bay.
| RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Rush: 9 - 37 - 0, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (2 targets) |
Bradshaw was used more in the second half to try and change things up a bit for the Giants' offense, but his quickness was neutralized quickly by the Cowboys defense. His one big run came on a blown blitz by safety Ken Hamlin who ran past Bradshaw's lane and opened up the right side for his long run, but after that play Bradshaw did not accomplish much in Dallas.
| WR Mario Manningham, Rec: 10 - 150 - 1 (13 targets) |
Manningham stepped up in a big way in Week 2 for the Giants, stretching the field against the Cowboys and asserting himself as a potential top wideout for New York. Manningham consistently got open deep and over the middle, giving Eli Manning a nice target to move the Giants downfield. His juggling, diving touchdown grab was a thing of beauty as he caught the ball on his back while lying in the end zone. Manningham's performance should make him a starter for the Giants and a huge waiver wire pickup this week.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 10 - 134 - 1 (13 targets) |
Smith is at first a possession receiver for the Giants, but in Week 2 against Dallas he showed that he can even do more than just move the chains on third down. Smith's 10 catches tied him for team lead on the night as he got open over the middle and down the seam all night long. Smith was wide open across the middle of the field on his scoring catch, and he helped set up the winning field goal late in the contest with key grabs late in the game. He abused the Dallas secondary and should be productive again next week against a weak Tampa Bay defense.
| WR Derek Hagan, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (1 targets) |
Hagan caught one ball in Week 2 against Dallas as he filled in for Domenik Hixon as the third wideout for the Giants.
| WR Domenik Hixon, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (3 targets) |
Hixon only made one short catch and was relegated to special teams for the Giants in Week 2 against the Cowboys. Hixon left the game with a sprained knee in the first half, but based on the rest of the game he has been passed by Mario Manningham and Steve Smith on the depth chart and has little fantasy value unless one of those two receivers gets injured.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (2 targets) |
Boss lost one catch due to a penalty but his contributions were minimal against Dallas in Week 2. Boss had to stay in and help block the swarming, blitzing, speedy Cowboy defense from getting to Eli Manning too often. That cost Boss as a receiver but his efforts helped the Giants to win the contest. Boss remains the top TE for the Giants and he may see some end zone targets but right now he has minimal fantasy value.
Dallas Cowboys
| QB Tony Romo, Pass: 13 - 29 - 127 - 1 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 1 - 3 - 1 |
Some players seem to shine when under the spotlight. Others just melt. Right now, there is probably a Tony Romo-shaped puddle in the middle of Jerry Jones' new stadium after his three interception performance on Sunday Night Football in Week 2 against the New York Giants. He completed 16 passes, but only 13 to his teammates. Relying on TE Jason Witten helped to some degree, but his targets were off and the Giants surrounded Roy Williams and Witten with Kenny Phillips poised to catch whatever happened to fly his way. Romo looked off all night with his accuracy and his turnovers directly led to most of the Giants' points. He did manage to run in a touchdown, but his passing and inaccuracy will be what he is remembered for with this performance. He will try and regroup for another prime time game next Monday night against Carolina.
| RB Marion Barber, Rush: 18 - 124 - 1, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (2 targets) |
Barber ran hard and well against the New York Giants in Week 2, exploding through holes and making some of his own when the line did not quite open one up for him. Barber topped 100 yards and made a very good defense look suspect. His punishing style of running might have caught up with him, but ironically he got hurt while running in space and not due to contact. Barber clutched at his leg while running for what would have been a touchdown but his leg seized up and he collapsed due to the pain. Early reports are that he should be fine, but keep an eye out for Barber's ability to practice this week.
| RB Felix Jones, Rush: 7 - 96 - 1 (1 targets) |
Jones played second fiddle in Week 2 to Marion Barber, but Jones nearly topped 100 yards on the ground himself with his incredible speed. Jones gets to his top speed very quickly and once he hits the hole and gets to the second level he is incredibly hard to catch and bring down. Jones exploded for a long run in the third quarter, a simple off-tackle run to the left quickly became a chase scene as Jones went untouched and entered the secondary. Only two speedy safeties kept Jones from scoring. Jones later took the ball into the end zone after Marion Barber fell to injury, and should Barber miss time Jones will see even more touches.
| RB Tashard Choice, Rush: 2 - 8 - 0, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Choice was a surprise contributor in Week 2 against the Giants. While technically third on the depth chart, Choice was used often in passing formations and also generally on third downs. He had only three touches but he looked very quick to the hole and made fast decisions and moves when given his chances. If Marion Barber loses time to injury it will be Choice getting the bulk of his carries as Choice and Felix Jones will split the redistributed touches.
| WR Patrick Crayton, Rush: 1 - 20 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (7 targets) |
Crayton started opposite of Roy Williams in Week two against the New York Giants, but he was held in check all game by supposedly a weakened and patchwork secondary. Crayton grabbed only one of his seven targets and was also forced out of the game briefly after an end-around as they suspected he may have suffered a concussion. Tony Romo's inaccuracy also did not help his stat line, either. He did get a target in the end zone but the ball was on him so fast he could hardly get his hands up before it was past him.
| WR Miles Austin, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (1 targets) |
Austin played more when Dallas put three wideouts on the field, which was not very often. The Cowboys used two TEs most of the game, but when Austin was targeted once he did grab it over the middle and picked up a big 20 yards. At WR3 for the Cowboys, Austin has very little upside unless Patrick Crayton or Roy Williams get demoted or injured.
| WR Sam Hurd, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets) |
Sam Hurd had a minimal impact in this game, catching just one of his two targets in Week 2 against the Giants.
| WR Roy Williams, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (4 targets) |
Roy Williams is supposed to be the top receiver in Dallas now, yet against a suspect secondary for the New York Giants kept him from getting on track once again. Williams was nearly invisible in Week 2 with just one grab on a short pass where he ran it down the sideline for 18 yards, but right now Williams' fantasy stock is falling like a rock.
| TE Jason Witten, Rec: 5 - 33 - 1 (7 targets) |
Witten saved Tony Romo's evening from being a total disaster by catching a short pass for a score against the Giants in Week 2. Witten was thrown behind once and had the ball ricochet off his heel for a strange interception to the Giants, a sign of just how bad the night would be for the Dallas passing game. Witten led all Cowboys in targets, catches and yards -- but at 5-33 that's a pitiful top end receiver for the game. Look for Romo and Witten to connect more often against Carolina next week.
| TE Martellus Bennett, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (4 targets) |
Martellus Bennett was on the field quite often in Week 2 against the Giants as the Dallas Cowboys used two TE sets very often. Tony Romo looked in his direction several times but his off night cost Bennett a bigger game. Bennett had four targets including one near the end zone but he only could reel in one, but the takeaway here is that Bennett is a bigger part of the offense than most any other second TE in the NFL.