Here are the 10 big storylines for the week, with five for the Giants and five for the Cowboys.
Giants
- New York is now 2-9 and have lost six straight games after Sunday's 30-7 home loss to Tampa Bay. Some of the players called the effort "soft" and questioned the overall work ethic. The Giants started out 2-3, which included a 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in Week 4 at MetLife Stadium. During the six-game losing streak, the Giants haven't scored more than 22 points, which came against Washington in a 28-22 loss.
- New York made plenty of headlines last week with the surprising release of veteran quarterback Daniel Jones, who apparently went to the front office and asked for the move. The mutual decision puts an end to the Daniel Jones era, which began in 2019 when New York drafted him No. 6 overall. The move opened the door for Tommy DeVito, who became a fan favorite last season when he started six games (3-3 record). But he got the start last Sunday and struggled in the Giants' loss to the Bucs.
- The Giants have some key injuries to watch on their short week. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor suffered a quad injury in the first half and did not return against the Bucs. On the other side, Azeez Ojulari, who has six sacks this year, suffered a toe injury in Sunday's game and also did not return.
- The Giants have struggled to stop the run here in recent weeks and it didn't change against the Bucs, who went for 156. It's the fifth straight game New York has allowed at least 140 rushing yards. Something has to give this week as the Cowboys are one of the worst NFL rushing teams and have yet to surpass 137 in a game. .
- Malik Nabers is having one of the best rookie seasons by an wide receiver in NFL history. He gave the Cowboys problems in Week 4 before suffering a concussion. In that game, he went for 12 receptions and 115 yards. Despite missing two games, he has 67 catches for 671 yards and three touchdowns.
Cowboys
- The Cowboys ended a five-game losing streak in the most dramatic fashion possible, outlasting division rival Washington in a wild, 34-26 road win against former DC Dan Quinn and a host of former Cowboys players. The Cowboys scored 24 fourth-quarter points, including two kickoff returns for touchdowns for the first time in team history.
- The Cowboys improve to 4-7 and will likely be favored in their next four games – against the Giants, Bengals, Panthers and Bucs – three of which will be at AT&T Stadium, where they have not won a game this year. The only other time the Cowboys began a season 0-5 at home was in 1989, when they were 0-8 at Texas Stadium and 1-15 overall.
- Injuries have been the biggest story for the Cowboys all season and it didn't change this past weekend. Despite getting players back such as DaRon Bland and Marshawn Kneeland, the team was without Zack Martin, Trevon Diggs, Jake Ferguson and Tyler Smith – a combined 12 Pro Bowls between the group that was inactive. The Cowboys might have a shot to get at least Ferguson, Smith and maybe Diggs back this week against the Giants. Also, look for wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) to have a shot to play for the first time since Week 4 against the Giants.
- Although they gave up an improbable 84-yard touchdown in the final minute that nearly cost them the game, the Cowboys defense was sound for most of the game, giving them a shot to win the game with their aggressive play that included four sacks, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. DaRon Bland made his 2024 season debut after missing the first 10 games with a foot injury. The defense will face a Giants team that kicked five field goals in the first game around.
- To say the special teams has been an adventure this year would be a massive understatement. Recently, it's been failed fake punt attempts and against Washington, Brandon Aubrey missed a field goal and the Cowboys also had a field goal and punt blocked. But, on the flip side, KaVontae Turpin had a dazzling 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Juanyeh Thomas also scored on an onside kick return in the final minute.
