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FOOTBALL

New York Looks For Their First Win Of The Season As They Visit Dallas

After taking their first loss in the opener at home against Jacksonville the New York Giants will look to bounce back against their NFC East rival Dallas on Sunday at AT&T Stadium who also will be looking for their first win of the season after their loss to Carolina in their season opener.

New York comes into the opener with a record of 0-1 and is fourth in their division “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants while Dallas also comes into the game with a record of 0-1 as well and is third in the division. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/standings

As for New York’s season opener they lost to Jacksonville.

Despite their dynamic rookie running back breathing late life into the game with a long touchdown run, the New York Giants did not have enough against one of the premier defenses in the NFL as they fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-15, in the season opener. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE:

•  Saquon Barkley’s first carry of the preseason? Thirty-nine yards. His first of the regular season? No gain. That’s what happens when things are ratcheted up a notch in Week 1 against a Jacksonville defense that returned six Pro Bowlers. The Giants’ opening drive of the season was not how you draw it up. Right tackle Ereck Flowers was called for two penalties (tripping and holding) as the Giants avoided a safety twice while backed up deep in their own territory. However, after the Giants fell behind by 11 points on a pick-six with 11 minutes to go, Barkley shocked the Giants back to life with a 68-yard touchdown run, a play that college football had seen time and time again over the past couple years. Barkley finished the game with 106 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He also had two receptions for 22 yards, including an 18-yarder. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  Eli Manning completed 23 of 37 passes for 224 yards as the offense failed to score a passing touchdown. The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Manning’s pass intended for Barkley was tipped up by defensive tackle Abry Jones. Linebacker Myles Jack caught it and took it 32 yards the other way for a touchdown and a two-possession Jaguars lead with 11:24 left in the game. The Giants had one last attempt on offense on fourth-and-six after the two-minute warning, but Manning’s attempt to Sterling Shepard down the sideline fell incomplete. Manning was hit six times in the game, including two sacks. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  In his first game in 336 days, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recorded 11 catches for 111 yards. He also proved to be just as dangerous without the ball in his hands. Late in the first half, Beckham drew a 30-yard passing interference penalty on safety Barry Church to move the ball to the Jaguars 20, and another on All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey for 15 yards to bring the Giants down to the 11. The Giants kicked a short field to cut the deficit to 13-6 before halftime. In the process, Beckham set the NFL record for most catches in a player’s first 50 career games. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  After the Giants released Davis Webb last weekend, Alex Tanney dressed as Manning’s backup quarterback. Rookie Kyle Lauletta, the fourth-round draft choice was inactive. Shurmur had said all summer that there was no depth chart behind Manning, only that he does “like having a veteran presence in that group.” Tanney, 30, fits the bill. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  Manning played in his 217th regular-season game, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (216) for most in a Giants uniform. Manning made his debut on Sept. 12, 2004 against Philadelphia. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE:

•  Outside linebacker Olivier Vernon, who got his feet tangled up on a play and sprained his ankle at practice two weeks to the day before the season opener, was ruled out of Sunday’s game along with linebacker Tae Davis (hamstring). Vernon did not participate in practice all week, making his absence more likely with each day. Rookie third-round pick Lorenzo Carter started in his place. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  Like the offense, the defense got things going on the second series of the game. Kareem Martin, who got the initial pressure up the middle, and Kerry Wynn teamed up for a sack of Blake Bortles. On the next play, cornerback Janoris Jenkins intercepted him on the sideline. The pass was intended for Donte Moncrief, but Jenkins turned around at the right time and did a high-wire act to stay in bounds as he caught the ball. The Giants turned it the takeaway into a field goal on the ensuing possession. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  Running back Leonard Fournette left midway through second quarter with hamstring. T.J. Yeldon took over from there as the run-heavy Jaguars finished with 137 yards on 28 carries. Bortles accounted for 41 of those yards on one rush. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  Cornerback Eli Apple had two key passes defensed on third down. In the first quarter, he forced Jacksonville to settle for a short field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Jaguars had to punt as a result of the play. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS:

•  Kicker Aldrick Rosas carried over his perfect preseason and made all three of his field goal attempts on Sunday from 27, 31, and 44 yards. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

•  Newcomer Kaelin Clay muffed a punt that Jacksonville recovered with 45 seconds left in the game, taking away any chance of a final comeback drive for the offense. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

INACTIVES: OLB Olivier Vernon (ankle), ILB Tae Davis (hamstring), QB Kyle Lauletta, S Kamrin Moore, CB Michael Jordan, OL Evan Brown, OL Spencer Pulley "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

LINEUP CHANGES: Lorenzo Carter for Vernon at WILL "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

TEAM CAPTAINS: Coach Pat Shurmur announced last week that six players were selected as captains of the 2018 Giants in a vote by the team’s players and coaches. Offense: Eli Manning and Nate Solder. Defense: Landon Collins and Alec Ogletree. Special Teams: Zak DeOssie and Michael Thomas. "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

INJURY REPORT: RB Wayne Gallman (knee) "according to https://www.giants.com/news/instant-analysis-barkley-s-late-play-not-enough-for-giants

As for Dallas, Like New York, they lost their season opener.

Cam Newton ran for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Carolina's defense turned in a dominating performance as the Panthers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-8 in the season opener Sunday. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Luke Kuechly had 13 tackles, Kawann Short sacked Dak Prescott twice and Mario Addison had a huge strip-sack of the Cowboys quarterback with 1:23 left to seal the victory. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Carolina's defense had six sacks in all and limited the Cowboys to 232 yards. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The Cowboys, who are looking for answers on offense following the departures of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, couldn't do much against a stingy Carolina defense in the first half. The Panthers limited the Cowboys to 60 yards and four first downs to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Prescott finished with just 170 yards passing and Ezekiel Elliott was held to 69 yards rushing and a touchdown. Dallas' leading receiver was Cole Beasley, who had seven catches for 73 yards. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The Panthers seemed in complete control when fullback Alex Armah scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter to make it 16-0. But Carolina botched the extra point, keeping it a two-possession game and turning the momentum to the Cowboys. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Elliott scored on a 4-yard touchdown run on the next drive and Prescott added the 2-point conversion to cut the lead in half. But Dallas' final drive ended when Addison -- who had 11 sacks last season -- stripped Prescott of the ball and Captain Munnerlyn recovered. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

CHANGING TIMES: For the first time in franchise history, the Panthers painted their team logo at midfield. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

New owner David Tepper made the decision after purchasing the team from Jerry Richardson in July. The Panthers have always had the NFL "shield" at midfield -- per Richardson's orders -- since coming into the league as an expansion franchise in 1995. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

GETTING HIS KICKS: Brett Maher, who replaced Dan Bailey -- the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history -- missed a 47-yard field goal in his first career attempt. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

INJURIES

Cowboys: Defensive end Randy Gregory suffered a concussion in the first half and did not return. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Panthers: Tight end Greg Olsen left in the first half with a foot injury and did not return. He was on the sideline in the second half on crutches with his right foot in the boot. It's the same foot Olsen broke last season. Coach Ron Rivera said Olsen didn't suffer the same injury, but offered no other updates. ... Second-team All-Pro right tackle Daryl Williams went down with a knee injury in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field. ... Linebacker Luke Kuechly injured his left knee in the fourth quarter but returned to the game. “according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Kick-Off is set for 8:20pm from AT&T Stadium. The game will be televised on NBC. “according to https://www.giants.com/schedule/