A review of the Giants' 27-20 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday at AT&T Stadium:
offense
Even if the quarterback is different, the inability to put the ball in the end zone is the same. Drew Lock (21 of 31, 178 yards) ran for a touchdown, but two turnovers (a pick-six and a lost fumble) led to 14 points for the Cowboys.
Running backs Devin Singletary (7-23) and Tyrone Tracy (9-32) didn't do much. Lock was relentlessly rushed, sacked six times and hit a total of 14 times. RT Evan Neal was given a false start penalty for Micah Parsons breathing on his neck, then barely put his glove on Parsons during a third quarter sack.
Tracy's nice gain was called back by a holding penalty on rookie tight end Theo Johnson. The big gain on the pass to Malik Nabors came from a holding call on tight end Chris Manhertz.
Going 3-of-13 on third down doesn't get you there. 247 total yards against a poor defense wasn't enough. At least Nabers (8-69) was involved early.
Grade: D.
defense
Cooper Rush threw the ball 36 times, hardly a gazelle at the time, and had no sacks. none. Memo to edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeau: You're allowed to harass and actually sack quarterbacks.
Thibodeau was called for two offside penalties and capped off a brutal first half with a roughing the passer penalty that hit Rush in the back. The Cowboys ranked 31st in rushing, but Rico Doodle (22-112, 1 TD) averaged 5.1 yards per game.
CB Cordale Flott did a good job of covering Brandin Cooks and then smashed a deep ball to Jonathan Mingo, but he allowed a 36-yard completion to Jalen Tolbert. Rookie safety Tyler Nubin was called for pass interference to extend the Dallas drive. Veteran cornerback Adoree Jackson was brought down by Cooks for a touchdown and was called for pass interference shortly after.
Was Elijah Chatman offside on a first down late in the game? That's ridiculous.
Grade: C minus.
special teams
Art Green hit a big hit on Cavonte Turpin for a no-yard stop on punt coverage. Green tiptoed to the goal line a little later, stopping Jamie Gillan's 41-yard punt at the 1-yard line.
Ihimir Smith-Marsette jumped a few more yards over Damone Clark to break up a 22-yard punt return. Gillan expertly completed a 53-yard punt out of bounds.
Eric Gray lost a fumble on the kickoff return, but Matthew Adams was lucky to recover the ball. Graham Gano made field goals of 46 and 47 yards.
Grade: B+.
coaching
At least the Giants fought until the end. That has important implications when evaluating Brian Daboll. Commending 13 penalties for a loss of 98 yards doesn't lead to the conclusion that Daboll has a solid grip.
Daboll was right to go for it on a fourth-and-1 from midfield midway through the first quarter, and he was rewarded for it. Please tell me if you've heard this before. Shane Bowen's defense has looked shabby, failing in his attempts to stop the conceded goals, and his tackling issues are worrying.
Grade: D.
