The Dallas Cowboys enter Week 2 with an early, must-win matchup against the New York Giants. Having lost to the Philadelphia Eagles one week prior, Dallas can neither afford a two-game hole nor a second NFC East loss. The Giants are in a similar situation after losing the Washington Commanders in Week 1, setting the table for a black and blue battle for survival.
The Cowboys, early favorites for this matchup, enter into the affair riding abnormally high for an 0-1 team. They hung with the champs a week prior, and many times looked the better team. Brian Schottenheimer’s first time as a head coach was strong schematically and emotionally, filling many Cowboys fans with optimism.
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Brian Daboll resides on the opposite end of the spectrum. His time as head coach is running short in New York and after his team struggled to muster much of anything against Washington, New York fans are left wondering how long their coach will last.
While the play at quarterback is always the most important factor in determining winners and losers, there are plenty of other individual matchups that will be key this Sunday in Arlington.
Wan’Dale Robinson vs Cowboys nickel CB
Because it’s impossible for the Cowboys to have nice things, All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland fell to injury this week putting his availability the next couple of games in serious doubt. Bland’s likely absence from the lineup means an already paper-thin nickel CB unit gets even thinner. Going up against a Giants offense that essentially lives in a spread 11 personnel group, the Cowboys will have their work cut out for them filling what is arguably their thinnest position on the defense.
Reddy Steward or Zion Childress are favorites to win the third starting spot and between them they have two career games of experience. Their opponent, Wan’Dale Robinson, is no one to take lightly. Robinson is a big part of the New York offense and even led team with six receptions in Week 1. He eats while Malik Nabers on the outside occupies defenders. It will be up to whoever mans the nickel position to make things as difficult as possible for Robinson.
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Tyler Guyton vs 3-headed monster
Guyton is coming off a poor pass-protection performance against the Eagles in Week 1. He’s shown growth on and off the field but after missing virtually the entire preseason, he has a lot of ground to make up before he can be considered anything but a liability.
The Giants bring to the table arguably the best 3-headed monster in the NFL at the edge position. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux are pass rushing beasts who love to pin their ears back and get up field in obvious passing situations. While Thibodeaux typically comes from the left side matching up against the right tackle, Carter and Burns both take the bulk of their snaps on the right side, becoming Guyton’s problem.
Whatever the specific matchup may be for Guyton, there will be no plays to take it easy. The Giants can rotate multiple players in Guyton’s direction and make sure someone is positioned opposite on the left to keep the Cowboys honest.
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Dexter Lawrence vs Tyler Booker
Tyler Booker got a pass in Week 1 when Jalen Carter was ejected for sharing bodily fluids with unwilling parties. Booker won’t be so lucky in Week 2 facing the incomparable Dexter Lawrence. In the post-Aaron Donald era, Lawrence has a valid claim as the best defensive tackle in the league. The 6-foot-4, 342-pound monster can do it all and oftentimes makes it look easy while he’s doing it.
With Lawrence splitting time between the left and right side of center, Booker is sure to see his share of matchups against Lawrence on Sunday. The Cowboys’ running game is built on their strength up the middle and their ability to dominate with inside zone, so it’s pretty important Booker becomes as strong as Tyler Smith on the interior.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Young players headline key matchups for Cowboys in Week 2 vs Giants