Facts
Before Dallas opened its season against the New York Giants, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he felt anxious and nervous. The Cowboys then lost 28-20.
Quarterback Dak Prescott attempted to throw the ball away while approximately 17 yards behind the line of scrimmage, but Giants safety Jevon Holland intercepted it. New York scored six plays later and added another touchdown after halftime.
The Giants rushed 37 times for 165 yards, possessed the ball for more than 13 minutes longer than Dallas and limited the Cowboys to two second-half possessions. Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said, "We got humbled tonight."
Our Take
Jerry Jones showed up nervous. His football team, always committed to customer service, spent the next three hours explaining exactly why.
Prescott's attempted throwaway became an interception, which is a wonderfully efficient piece of Cowboys football. Even surrendering on the play somehow created additional danger.
The Giants then kept the ball for 13 more minutes than Dallas. That is nearly an entire quarter in which America's Team participated primarily as America's Audience. Jones paid for a prime-time football franchise and received men standing near a football game.
Schottenheimer said the defense seen during practice was not the defense that appeared against New York. Terrific. Perhaps the practice defense can report for work next Sunday, assuming it is not too busy dominating a collection of teammates forbidden from tackling the quarterback.
"We got humbled" is coach language for "the other bastards took our lunch, ate it in front of us and made us hold the napkin."
Dallas still has a full season available to repair the damage. That is also the Cowboys' most renewable resource: plenty of time for everyone to become emotionally invested before the machine finds a louder, stupider way to kick them in the dick.
