2024 NFL Season, Week 4: Key Takeaways from the Cowboys' Victory Over the Giants on Thursday Night

Cowboys Grind Out Much-Needed Victory Over Giants in Week 4

The Dallas Cowboys may not have delivered a flawless performance, but they secured a critical win against the New York Giants on Thursday night, bouncing back after two consecutive home losses. Frustration had been building throughout the team leading into Week 4, with head coach Mike McCarthy getting testy with reporters and players discussing the need for accountability. A win was essential for the Cowboys, and while it wasn’t always pretty, they got the job done.

Things initially looked promising for Dallas, as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb carved up the Giants' secondary en route to a 14-6 lead. However, the Cowboys were plagued by penalties, starting with Lamb’s excessive celebration after his touchdown. Those infractions turned manageable second-down situations into difficult third-and-longs, derailing offensive momentum. On defense, mistakes like offsides and having too many men on the field added to the night’s penalty woes. Special teams also struggled, with four separate flags contributing to an overall messy performance.

Despite these issues, Dallas’ defense, battered but resilient, managed to keep the Giants out of the end zone. The offense did enough to maintain control, though a missed late field goal by Brandon Aubrey — his first miss of the season — left the door open for a possible Giants comeback. In the end, the Cowboys' gritty effort allowed them to climb back to a .500 record.

A Puzzling Decision from Brian Daboll
The Giants had a chance to seize momentum in the third quarter. Trailing 14-9 at halftime, they opened the second half with a promising drive. Daniel Jones was finding rhythm, hitting five plays of 8 or more yards and wearing down Dallas' thin and tired defense. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the Cowboys' 3-yard line, head coach Brian Daboll opted for a field goal rather than going for the touchdown that could have given his team the lead.

This decision to cut the Cowboys' lead from five points to two seemed overly cautious, especially since the Giants had been moving the ball effectively. It was the closest they came to reaching the end zone all night, and despite later showing more aggressiveness on fourth downs, Daboll's decision in this key moment felt like a missed opportunity. From that point on, the Giants crossed midfield only once on their final four drives, unable to capitalize on their earlier success.

Cowboys’ Defense Steps Up Despite Injuries
The Cowboys’ defense had been under scrutiny for its 32nd-ranked run defense, and they entered the game with injuries in the secondary. Starting cornerback Caelen Carson, filling in for the injured DaRon Bland, was inactive, and his replacement, Andrew Booth, struggled and was benched at halftime. Amani Oruwariye took over and made a critical game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter.

It was a tough night for Dallas' defense. Demarcus Lawrence left the game with a foot injury, Trevon Diggs needed an IV, and even Micah Parsons had to scrape himself off the turf at times. Despite these challenges, the defense held firm. While the Giants managed several long field-goal drives, Dallas limited New York to 5-for-16 on third downs, completely erased their running game, and held the Giants to just 4.7 yards per play. This gutsy defensive performance silenced critics, at least for the time being.

Giants Offense Falters Late
Daniel Jones, who has been improving since a rough Week 1, had some bright moments in the game, completing 29 of 40 passes for 281 yards. He converted key fourth-down plays, kept the Cowboys off balance with hard counts, and leaned heavily on receivers Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson. However, in the fourth quarter, Jones struggled, completing just 7 of 15 passes for 45 yards and throwing a late interception. Nabers, who had 12 catches for 115 yards, left the game with a concussion, further stalling the Giants’ offense.

Despite solid individual performances, the Giants couldn’t capitalize in the red zone and were forced to settle for field goals throughout the game. With their record now at 1-3, the Giants need to find a way to finish drives if they hope to turn their season around.

Dak Prescott Leads Efficient Offense
The Cowboys’ offense started strong, with Prescott delivering two early touchdown drives that kept the Giants’ pass rush in check. However, as the game wore on, Dallas struggled on third downs, converting just 3 of 10 attempts. Penalties repeatedly put the Cowboys in difficult situations, and the run game wasn’t spectacular, though there were contributions from Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 41 yards and had a touchdown catch, and Hunter Luepke, who made several key third- and fourth-down conversions.

While Ezekiel Elliott saw limited action, Prescott and Lamb were the stars early on, doing enough to maintain the lead. The Cowboys’ offense wasn’t perfect, but it provided just enough firepower to secure a division road win and silence critics, at least for now.

Next Gen Stats Insight
The Giants' ground game was non-existent, running 23 designed rushing plays for a net of just 27 yards, with a dismal minus-49 rushing yards over expected. This marked the worst rushing performance in terms of rushing yards over expected (RYOE) in the Next Gen Stats era. Giants ball carriers averaged minus-0.1 yards before contact, with nearly half of their runs being met behind the line of scrimmage.

NFL Research Insight
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers continues to impress, becoming one of the Giants' standout performers. Nabers now has five or more receptions in each of his first four NFL games, tying for the fourth-longest streak to start a career since 1970. The current record, held by Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb, is six.

In a game filled with penalties and missed opportunities, the Cowboys showed resilience, while the Giants were left wondering what could have been.