Cowboys Keys to Victory Against Giants

We are just hours away from the Cowboys 2015-2016 campaign and it should be a good one. At the end of the season, there was a sense that these Cowboys were going to comeback strong and finish the fight. Jason Garrett and the executive brain trust have put together a championship roster and have brought back a familiar formula that others are trying to mimic now.

Just like last season, the Cowboys base of attack will come from that monstrous offensive line, which comes back this season bigger faster, and more experienced — time to maul.

We open up the season against the hated New York Giants, and tonight we’re going to make a statement right out the gate. You heard Garrett say it won’t matter which running back starts and I think we’ll see what he means once we man handle the Giants front. Who is pumped?!

Here are my keys to victory against the Giants:

— Pressure Eli Manning

This is a no brainer, but unlike previous seasons Manning was able to have success against our defense which kept them in close games despite dropping the previous four games against the Cowboys. This season the pass rush will be coming at Eli in waves from whistle-to-whistle. The lack of pass rush killed us in close games and most apparent in the playoffs. If we can get in Eli’s face he’ll turn the ball over and he’ll fumble, so we need to bring it every down, and I believe we will. Look for Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, and Davon Coleman to give the Giants offensive line fits.

— Protect Tony Romo

The Cowboys did a remarkable job protecting Romo last season, but the biggest question will be how the offensive line looks this season under Frank Pollack. Bill Callahan is the offensive line whisperer and he’s gone, so it’ll be interesting to see how this line plays. I don’t envision any drop off, but it needs to be watched tonight. The other area will be the pass protection from the running backs, and for some of Murray’s flaws, he was solid in pass protections. The current backs have some inconsistencies in that area, but Darren McFadden is the best of the group at pass protection.

— Special Teams

It’s no secret I have absolutely hated our special teams the past few seasons, and if the Cowboys can’t improve in this area in the regular season we’re going to give teams great field position. I didn’t buy the notion of the preseason blunders would not happen in the regular season because the personnel is different — total BS — it happened last regular season too. That being said, if the Cowboys continue to struggle they’ll need to make a change there in the offseason.

— Create turnovers and not commit turnovers

The Cowboys were very good at forcing turnovers early on last season, but it curtailed-0ff a bit towards the end of last season. The Cowboys need to make Manning turn the ball over with INTs and fumbles in the pocket. One of Rod Marinelli’s trademarks is turnovers and constant pressure, so the Cowboys will be very active tonight which will help the offense wear down the Giants. Turnovers are key to time of possession, and a stat that usually gives the winning team the edge at the end of the game. Conversely, the Cowboys cannot turn the ball over. Dwayne Harris became a fumbler in the return game, but he is gone to the Giants, so we don’t have to worry about that. Where I do have some concerns is his replacement. Will it in fact be Lucky Whitehead, and/or Lance Dunbar? Dunbar is a fumbler, and Whitehead is a rookie and did have a brain fart in the preseason.

— Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr

We’re expecting the Cowboys to bring more pressure on Manning tonight, but the biggest questions on the defense will be the secondary. Claiborne will get the start opposite Carr, and this game could be the game that continues his career as a starter or nails it in the coffin. I’ve been one of Mo’s biggest detractors, but I did like what he did in the preseason when he got the start, so the ability is there, but the big lights are on now, and can he be consistent? Can Mo stay mentally tough? Brandon Carr is in the same boat. We saw teams target him more in the preseason and he again failed to live up to his bloated contract. Carr vs Beckham will be all the talk if Carr gets embarrassed again. The corners will be need to play well or there will be changes there, whether that means inserting Corey White or Byron Jones.

What are your keys to victory? What do you want to see the Cowboys do against the Giants tonight?

Let’s go Dallas!! Finish the Fight.