Can the Cowboys Overcome Their Bad History in the Meadowlands?
The Dallas Cowboys are heading up to New York not to play the Giants but to play their crosstown rivals at 1:00 p.m. EST. After a dominating offensive performance against one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers, which surprisingly ended in a tie, Dak Prescott and Co. look to break an unlikely curse that has haunted Dallas when facing the Jets in New York. Since 1990, the Cowboys have played the Jets at MetLife Stadium five times, and surprisingly, they have lost three of those games despite having strong teams. This season, with a record of 1-2-1, the Cowboys aim to end their losing streak and reposition themselves in the NFC playoff picture early in the season.
The Cowboys have had a strange history at MetLife Stadium since 1990, particularly in their last matchup against the Jets, which stands out as the most significant of those games. Similarly to this season, the Jets were winless in 2019 when the Cowboys took the trio there, and they would shock Dallas, beating them 24-22. A deep ball to Robbie Chosen “Anderson” from the Jets' own eight-yard line early in the second quarter shocked all Dallas players, and from that moment, it was an uphill battle that Dallas could not recover from. Another shocking game occurred during the 10th anniversary of 9/11, when Dallas squandered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against Mark Sanchez and the Jets, leaving New York fans in a state of bliss. Dallas would have a chance at a game-winning drive late in the game, but a Tony Romo interception to Darrelle Revis would set the Jets up for the game-winning field goal with under 30 seconds left. The Cowboys are hopeful that they can break their streak of misfortune against the Jets and regain their momentum for the season.
Containing the run game from Justin Fields and Breece Hall is the Cowboys' top priority to ensure this game does not end in an upset like in 2019. Dallas has had a long history of struggling with running quarterbacks, and Fields is no exception, as he is arguably the best running quarterback in the NFL. Another key is to be able to slow down Garrett Wilson, who is the Jets' star weapon on the outside. It is easier said than done, as numerous teams have attempted to contain Wilson; however, despite the limited support at receiver, he consistently finds a way to excel. On the offensive side, Dallas will once again be playing with a majority of backup linemen, but with the elite pre-snap ability of Prescott, he’ll find a way to be sure to compensate for any pressure he might face. George Pickens and Sauce Gardner will engage in an exciting matchup, and despite Sauce's elite status as a cornerback, Pickens has emerged victorious in their few previous meetings. If the Cowboys can make this game a shootout, they will likely win, but if it turns into another gritty game like the last couple games in the Meadowlands, the Jets could shock the NFL world and win again.
