The Dallas Cowboys are currently 3-0 against their divisional opponents in the NFC East division and hope to improve that record with a sweep of the New York Giants on Monday night in prime time. They thoroughly trounced them in the 2019 season opener, but this isn't the same Giants team they played in Week 1. This matchup has the makings of what is best described as a “trap game”.
As you know, a trap game is when the stronger opponent allows the weaker one to outplay them and steal away what should've been an easy victory. Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys have already succumbed to just such a game already this season at the hands of the New York Jets. Now another New York-based team threatens to do the same.
The New York Giants have made quite a few changes to their roster since the Dallas Cowboys saw them earlier in the season. The two biggest changes come on the offensive side of the ball though. Rookie QB Daniel Jones has replaced long time starter Eli Manning and the WR Golden Tate has rejoined the Giants after missing the first four weeks of the season while serving a suspension.
Cowboys Nation knows all too well how dangerous Golden Tate can be. He's been a thorn in the Cowboys side on a number of occasions over the years for several different teams and could continue to be so now as a Giant. He will no doubt give the Cowboys secondary all they can handle, but he won't be alone.
The Cowboys will absolutely have to make sure they know where Golden Tate is on any given play, but they also have to account for the Giants other playmakers as well. RB Saquon Barkley, WR Sterling Shepard (if healthy), TE Evan Engram, and the newcomer rookie WR Darius Slayton can all make things tough for Dallas' defense.
Defensively the Giants are good enough to give the Cowboys offense some problems as well, especially after the addition of DT Leonard Williams who they recently acquired via trade from the New York Jets. He upgrades an already stout Giants DL and they will do their darndest to slow down Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys rushing attack.
As you can see, this is shaping up to be one of those “trap games” the Dallas Cowboys have let slip to their grasp already once the season. They simply can't allow that to happen again against a divisional opponent. Hopefully the bye week allowed them time to rest up and better prepare themselves for what could be a slobber knocker of a game. The NFC East division could hang in the balance.
