New York Giants Can Eradicate Demons In Week One
The New York Giants kick off their 2023 season on Sunday night on primetime television, against their nemesis, the Dallas Cowboys. Some may look this game and say 'oh no', while others embrace Big Blue's opportunity to change the narrative on their football team.
Beating Dallas on Sunday will enable head coach Brian Daboll put a number of demons in his squad's past. Over the last few years, the numbers surrounding these two NFC opponents, when they play each other, are not pretty for the G-men.
The Cowboys have won the last four contests between the two. Dallas has also been victorious in 11 of the past 12 match-ups with New York. Giants' quarterback Daniel Jones is a whopping 1-6 against Dallas with four touchdowns in seven games. Those numbers can all be erased with a victory on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
Jones knows the significance of the week one match-up. The 5th year quarterback told Pat Leonard of nydailynews.com, “it’s a big divisional game for us. All the divisional games are certainly big and match up with a lot of tradition and history so yeah, it’s a big deal.” It is a big deal, especially for a player that just signed a $40 million per year contract to lead an NFL team in New York City. For that money, you are expected to beat the Cowboys, at least half of the time, and take your team to the playoffs.
Even though they made the playoffs, head coach Brian Daboll knows his team was a dismal 1-4-1 last season against NFC East opponents. Daboll knows it will be difficult to repeat the magic of getting his team into the playoffs with such as lousy record in his division. The second-year Giants' head coach told nydailynews.com, “I think we’re focused on this week and trying to get ready for a really good team. I think the only thing that we’ve got to focus on is coming out here, practice, prepare, do the things we need to do to get ready to go on Sunday.” From the coaches to the players, they don't want to overstate it but they know the significance of this game on the schedule.
Newcomer to the Giants, tight end Darren Waller is all too familiar with significance. Waller told Leonard, “Growing up in a house with my parents, NFC East fans, I know the history, I know how heated and competitive these games have been over the years. And I know what I’m about to step into on Sunday. I am honored to take the field.” Waller will be a big part of the story, if the Giants can change the story around this lopsided rivalry.