In case you’re wanting on the file of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, you doubtless imagine this is not a sport it’s best to care about, however you could not be extra mistaken. It is a matchup that has a metric ton value of storylines, and that features the return of Jason Garrett to Dallas for the primary time since parting methods with the Cowboys in January. The hiring of Mike McCarthy was carried out earlier than Garrett’s contract was technically expired — making for a really awkward exit — and whereas the latter insists he harbors no laborious emotions, you do not have to be mindreader to know he desires to win on Sunday and twist the 1-3 knife right into a 1-4 begin to the season.

After all, that is simpler stated than carried out when the Giants offense is the literal antithesis of the one he left behind in North Texas. The duo of Garrett and Joe Decide has seen Huge Blue fail to attain a single landing within the final two video games en path to an 0-4 file, and it does not assist that Saquon Barkley is out for the yr with a torn ACL. Each groups want a win, and desperately — however even with one victory between them, each are nonetheless very a lot within the combine for the NFC East crown.

Will Garrett’s flatlined New York offense come to life towards McCarthy’s equally useless protection? Or will Dak Prescott and the prolific Cowboys offense clear up their errors to make the defensive aspect of the coin completely inconsequential?

There’s just one option to discover out.

Methods to watch

Date: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
TV: CBS | Stream: CBS All Entry
Comply with: CBS Sports activities App  

Preview

With each La’El Collins and Tyron Smith misplaced for the season, the Giants are going to do their finest to punish Prescott.

It is formally a patchwork offensive line in Dallas that can be with out beginning heart Joe Looney this week, who changed a now-retired Travis Frederick, leaving Zack Martin and Connor Williams as the one two projected starters on the Cowboys O-line. That does not bode nicely for McCarthy’s offensive entrance, as a result of whereas Martin can and can doubtlessly be requested to play two completely different positions at various instances, Williams has been a legal responsibility for a lot of the season. Search for the Cowboys to lastly permit former third-round decide Connor McGovern his NFL debut, and from there it will be on a promising Brandon Knight and a struggling Terence Steele to man the perimeters. 

This might be huge for the Giants, assuming they’ll additionally account for the very fact Prescott is using his legs greater than ever to flee hazard and tear off chunks of yards. He is additionally eliminating the ball sooner than he ever has in his NFL profession, because the Cowboys modify to lack of a dominant (or at instances, even enough) offensive line. Something can occur when these two groups meet, sure, however the Giants are permitting 24 factors per sport and the Cowboys common 31.5 factors weekly. And whereas Garrett’s former staff is permitting an enormous 36.5 factors every week, his present staff averages simply 11.8 factors each time they take the sphere.

Until the Cowboys offense will get giveaway completely happy but once more, the Giants are up towards it, which explains why Dallas is 9.5-point favorites to take the win, per William Hill Sportsbook.

Prediction

As said, give the sting to the Cowboys on this one, upsetting Garrett’s homecoming within the course of. Remember to take a look at extra on this sport from our consultants at CBSSports.com — together with Will Brinson and Pete Prisco — to assist together with your sport picks for this one and each matchup on the Week 1 slate.