NFL Dallas at NY Giants SNF Preview and Picks
September 9, 2023
It’s the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Giants in the first Sunday evening game of the 2023 season. Dallas is listed as a 3½-point favorite (total at 46½), according to NFL odds.
Moneyline has the ‘Boys priced at -170, the Giants +148.
Dallas finished the 2022 season at 12-5, in second place in the NFC East. While the Cowboys should be in the mix once again, it was an interesting offseason (see Trey Lance).
New York was also a playoff team a season ago, claiming a wild-card spot with a record of 9-7-1. Aiming to earn some early-2023 respect, Big Blue opens as an underdog at home.
If you’re a believer in either side, Dallas is priced at 14-1 (+1400) to win the title, while the Giants are at 60-1 (+6000). That’s per Super Bowl LVIII odds.
Cowboys Tough to Figure
The Dallas Cowboys averaged 26.8 points per game a season ago, fourth-best in the league. They were also inconsistent, with no player more so than quarterback Dak Prescott.
An injury-plagued season saw him miss five games, but in his dozen starts, Prescott was able to both keep Dallas in games (23 touchdowns passes) and sometimes take the team out of games (15 interceptions).
Linebacker Micah Parsons had 13½ sacks in 2022-23, one short list of Defensive Player of the Year candidates this season. If the Cowboys are able to get pressure on Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones, it’s difficult to see the Giants doing much on offense.
Dallas’ backfield looks different this season, as Ezekiel Elliott has gone to the New England Patriots. Tony Pollard and his 1,007 rushing yards of a season ago are now featured.
It hasn’t won a Super Bowl since January of 1996, but the team once again has more parts than not in place to make a run.
Giant Flukes in 2022?
If the New York Giants are to threaten in the NFC East, they need more of an offense. Averaging 21.2 points put them in the bottom half of the league, despite a career season by a resurgent Saquon Barkley (1,312 rush yards, 10 touchdowns). Daniel Jones and his fat, new contract was better (15 touchdown passes, five interceptions) a season ago, but needs to find more downfield or the opposition figures to stack the box to stop Barkley.
New York did advance in the ‘22 postseason, so the faithful won’t take kindly to any regression now. Expect the Giants to try ball-control football in an attempt to shrink the game
‘Boys the Bet
This is one of the best rivalries in the NFL. The problem with the Giants is that they just aren’t very dependable on offense. It’s difficult to see them scoring the requisite number of points to win this game, even at home.
Dak Prescott, despite his sometimes-spotty play/decisions, has the ability to lead the Cowboys to the end zone any time they have the ball. He is going to be clutch in this game.
New York, in our opinion, keeps this close through three quarters, then Dallas puts it away
Take the Cowboys -3½ (under 46½) in this NFC East rivalry game to open the season.
