Despite the Dallas Cowboys having one of the most star-studded rosters in the NFL, all eyes were on New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers heading into Thursday Night Football. Especially after his two-touchdown performance against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Fans React to Malik Nabers Snatching Ankles vs. Cowboys
Nabers did not disappoint as the rookie standout was breaking ankles and taking names against the Cowboys star-studded defense.
Malik Nabers making guys touch grass 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/OEshvF2TSc
— NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2024
He had fans losing their minds on social media.
"Best rookie by far," one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Nabers gonna be a star," another fan added.
"This guy is incredible," another user added.
"Nabers is GOAT," another user said.
Cowboys Defense Continues to Struggle
Despite coming off a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cowboys came into this matchup with a bit of momentum. They trailed the Raven 28-6 in the third quarter but answered with 19 huge points in the 4th.
But the problem for the Cowboys isn't the offense. Cowboy's quarterback Dak Prescott and their electric offense have scored at least two touchdowns in their first three games. The glaring discrepancy continues to be the defense. Through three games they have allowed 89 points.
That's an average of 29.6 points per game — which is not indicative of a defense that had several All-Pro players in 2023. Cowboys star pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who was one of those All-Pro selections, sent a strong message to the Dallas defense, ahead of a key matchup.
"I feel like as a competitor, at some point, you got to be prideful enough to say, 'I'm not going to allow this to happen to me.' I just feel like some people are just allowing them to keep getting smacked in the face. When are you going to stand up?" Parsons said
Giants Have A Lot Left to Prove
The Giants on the other hand did not come into this season with much of any expectation. Especially after losing their star running back Saquon Barkley to their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
But the Giants have shown some signs of life in the last two weeks. After throwing 2 interceptions in their Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Daniel Jones has not committed a turnover in their last two matchups. He has also thrown four touchdowns in that span.
There is still a lot left to be desired when it comes to this New York team. But one thing that is for sure is that they have proven to have the same grit as the past teams that have seen playoff success.