New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: Full Report Card Grades for New York

Since their matchup in Week 1, both the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have become completely different teams.

As the season began, the Giants were pegged to have one of the most high-powered offenses in all of football; and although they spent over $200 million upgrading their defense, the unit, as a whole, was still a mystery. Nowadays, the offense is a shell of what they were since Ben McAdoo came to New York while their defense is amongst the best in the NFC.

When it comes to the Cowboys, they were a team with a ton of potential that lied in the hands of youngsters Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. Fast forward 12 weeks, and Dallas is arguably the juggernaut of the NFL while their dynamic duo of rookies are legitimate MVP candidates.

Sure, both teams have changed since the start of the season. The result, however, did not.

In what was a hard-nosed, defensive-oriented matchup at MetLife Stadium, the Giants were able to sweep the season series as they defeated the Cowboys by the score of 10-7.

When it comes to the defensive side of the football, Big Blue had a championship performance on a national stage. Whether it was the defensive line, the linebackers, or the secondary, each level dominated the potent offense of the Cowboys, limiting them to a season-low seven points.

But for everything the defense was, the offense was not. The Eli Manning-led attack continued to struggle at an alarming rate and did no favors for their teammates. Because of the defense's performance, however, the lone Odell Beckham Jr. touchdown was all that was needed for the victory.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers all closing in on Wild Card spots, Sunday night's win gave the Giants additional breathing room. At 9-4, they're currently slotted as the fifth seed in the NFC and are in second place in the NFC East.

The games won't get any easier, as Big Blue will host the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions next week. But before we get there, let's take a look at their huge victory in Week 14.

Quarterback

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After having a terrible showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, Eli Manning was thought to have a rebound performance at home against the divisional foes. Unfortunately, however, that wasn’t the case.

Was it all Manning’s fault? No. Not only were there plenty of drops from pass-catchers, but the offensive line also did him no favors. But he, too, was off on Sunday night.

Could've Been Worse

When looking at the stat sheet, Manning had an underwhelming performance. The veteran completed 17 of his 28 passes, good for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception. If it wasn't for the slippery hands of the Cowboys defenders, however, Manning could've had up to four picks on his resume. 

Fumble-itis

Interceptions weren't the only problems that Manning faced on Sunday night. The quarterback also lost two fumbles, one of which slipped out of his hand while the other came as a result of a nonexistent block at the hands of Ereck Flowers. While the Cowboys never capitalized on the turnovers, Manning must do a better job at holding onto the football. 

History

When Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. connected on a touchdown pass in the third quarter, it was the 34th touchdown that the duo has combined for. The previous receiver who held that feat was Plaxico Burress, who received 33 touchdown passes from Manning. 

Grade: D

Running Backs

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After weeks of having Rashad Jennings and Paul Perkins split carries, the return of Shane Vereen added a third horse to the backfield. Unfortunately, however, he was knocked out of the game with a concussion, putting the rushing duties back on the shoulders of the aforementioned duo.

Right Down the Middle

Just one week after Perkins paced the Giants in carries, the workload was split right down the middle. Both Jennings and the fifth-round pick carried the ball 15 times each.

Identical

Their running attempts weren't the only thing that mirrored each other. Both backs rushed for 45 yards apiece, giving the Giants 90 rushing yards for the evening. Seeing as how both Jennings and Perkins are becoming more and more effective, don't be surprised if their numbers remain similar.

He's Back!

When Vereen tore his triceps back in September, many believed he would be sidelined for the season. Instead, the former New England Patriot worked his tail off to get back onto the field and did just that in Week 14. Unfortunately, however, his return didn't last long. After catching his lone pass of the game, Vereen's head slammed into the turf during the tackle. The ruling ended up being a concussion, and it remains to be seen how long he will be out.

Nice to See You, Bobby

After getting some work in Vereen's absence, Bobby Rainey found his way back to the bench in recent weeks. He did, however, make a cameo appearance on Sunday as he rushed for five yards on just one attempt.

Grade: B-

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

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For the duration of the year, the wide receiver position has been the biggest bright spot of the dull Giants offense. Unfortunately, they didn't live up to their potential against the Cowboys. 

Who Else?

As long as he's wearing blue, almost every Sunday will be the Odell Beckham Jr. show. While it was far from his best game of the season, the third-year receiver excelled nonetheless. Beckham led the team with four catches and registered 94 receiving yards over that span. Sixty-one of them, of course, came on the only Giants touchdown of the game. Beckham took it to another level on a slant route and outran a number of defenders to reach the end zone. 

No More Complaints for Cruz

Understandably, wide receiver Victor Cruz took exception last week as he wasn't targeted against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Week 14 was a different story, however, as Manning did look his way—but Cruz didn't help him out. The veteran caught just one pass for four yards while dropping one pass and having another one intercepted. 

Drops, Drops, Drops

Speaking of Cruz's drop, the receivers had a huge problem catching the ball. Not only did Cruz drop a pass, but Beckham uncharacteristically failed to haul in two strong throws from Manning as well. 

Emergence

Ever since Will Tye officially became the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart, he's been a boost to the offense. Sure, he had a modest game on paper (two catches, 19 yards); but the second-year talent continues to improve as a blocker, catches everything that comes his way and is always fighting for extra yards. Maybe the Giants don't need to sign a tight end after all. 

Quietly Strong

While many thought Sterling Shepard could've been in the running for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, things haven't necessarily worked out that way. The youngster has, however, been a quality No. 2 option for Eli Manning and that continued against the Cowboys. Shepard caught three passes for 39 yards, both good for second behind Beckham. 

Grade: C

Offensive Line

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Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse. The offensive line has been the weakest link for years, and the Cowboys defense took advantage of the Giants' struggles. It's safe to say Justin Pugh can't come back soon enough.

Yellow Flags for Days

In what has become a weekly occurrence, three members of the offensive line were hit with penalties. Bobby Hart was the first to be flagged as he was called for a holding during the first drive of the game. Next up was Ereck Flowers, who was then followed by Marshall Newhouse, as his holding call negated a long run by Paul Perkins.

Speaking of Flowers...

There comes a time when, even if you don't have a better option, a player must be benched. It's safe to say that time has come for Flowers. Clearly not cut out to be a left tackle, the second-year lineman had his poor technique showcased on a national stage. Flowers was slow when pulling, struggled to make the first contact and continued to allow defenders to get to Manning. The youngster still has potential—but the sooner he's banished from the blind side, the better.

Grade: F

Defensive Line

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Ferocious. Physical. Dominant. 

There aren't enough words to describe the defensive line. With Jason Pierre-Paul out for the season, there were a ton of question marks about how the unit would perform going forward. Fortunately, a collective effort was the driving force behind the D-Line's success. 

Have a Day, UDFA

Despite signs pointing to Kerry Wynn taking over for JPP, it was undrafted free agent Romeo Okwara that earned the nod opposite of Olivier Vernon. Steve Spagnuolo's decision paid off, as the Notre Dame alum had a superb game against the Cowboys. In the first start of his career, the youngster collected eight tackles and also notched his first career sack. Will Okwara play at the level of Pierre-Paul? Probably not. But it looks like he can have a presence. 

Same Stuff, Different Game

Without the presence of JPP across from him, many wondered how Olivier Vernon would hold up with more blockers. The offseason addition helped quiet the doubters, as he was his typical self against the Cowboys. A menace against the pass and the run, Vernon registered five combined tackles and gave left tackle Tyron Smith fits all game long. 

Eat 'Em Up

Damon Harrison had a tall task ahead of him as he was lined up opposite of All-Pro center Travis Frederick. In the second half, it looked like a matchup between a boy and a man as Harrison side-swiped Frederick to take Ezekiel Elliot down behind the line of scrimmage. 

Grade: B+

Linebackers

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Week in and week out, it's said that there is no linebacker that's a true difference-maker; instead, the foursome of Devon Kennard, Jonathan Casillas, Keenan Robinson, and Kelvin Sheppard all play as a collective unit. Despite all four of the 'backers having a strong game, there was one player that stood out above the rest.

What. A. Game.

Ever since Devon Kennard was drafted back in 2014, the organization has been waiting for him to break out on a consistent level. While he's shown flashes of brilliance, the former USC Trojan has struggled with injuries and inconsistencies. On Sunday, however, he played like the talent the Giants thought he could be. Kennard—who played in both a two- and three-point stance—recorded six tackles, one sack, one pass defended and one forced fumble. If he can put it all together, the Giants could have a star on their hands.

Sack Times Two

While sacks are typically reserved for the defensive line, it was the linebackers who got a taste of the action against the Cowboys. Not only did the aforementioned Kennard take down Dak Prescott, but Casillas, too, recorded a sack.

All Over the Place

Keenan Robinson has been one of the most underrated signings in the league, and he continued to show why on Sunday. The linebacker was seen dropping back in coverage, lining up at the line of scrimmage, defending the flats and blitzing Prescott. Robinson had six total tackles and also had a near-interception on a screen pass.

Grade: A- 

Defensive Backs

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The Seattle Seahawks have the Legion of Boom. The Denver Broncos have the No Fly Zone. With the way the Giants' secondary is playing, it looks like they'll be needing a nickname of their own. 

$62 Million and Worth Every Penny

While Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, and Keenan Robinson have all helped upgrade the defense, there may be no player living up to their contract like Janoris Jenkins has been. After limiting Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant to just one catch for eight yards in their first matchup, there were a lot of eyes on the duo in Week 14. The result? Zero catches for Bryant while Jenkins—who was matched up on him all game long—had two tackles, one interception and one forced fumble to seal the victory. 

DPOY?

Landon Collis has looked like the NFC's Defensive Player of the Year all season long, and his performance on Sunday night was no exception. From dropping back in coverage to blitzing, the second-year safety was seen all over the field and played a huge part in limiting Giants killer Jason Witten to a modest four-catch, 26-yard game. 

Surprise!

While Leon Hall has struggled to find playing time since the bye week, injuries forced Steve Spagnuolo's hand. The veteran, however, rewarded the coach's decision by collecting his first interception of the season. With Andrew Adams experiencing some growing pains, it wouldn't be a shock to see Hall get more time at safety. 

Slot? No problem

Despite succeeding on the outside, the emergence of rookie Eli Apple forced Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to move to the inside. While struggling some as a nickel corner, the veteran has taken the change in stride. DRC collected five tackles and helped keep Cole Beasley in check (four catches, 41 yards). 

Grade: A

Special Teams

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For the first time all season long, the special teams unit displayed consistency. And because the game was so close, their performance as a whole was vital to the team's success.

Ace

While Dwayne Harris has struggled in the return game, his versatility has been on full display this season. The former Cowboy, however, hasn't had a better game than he did on Sunday night. Not only did Harris make a tackle, but he also caught two punts from Brad Wing to pin the Cowboys inside of the five-yard line.

Busy Day

Speaking of Wing, he had a busy evening for the Giants. The Aussie punted nine times, which isn't a good sign for the offense. The positive, however, is that he pinned the Cowboys inside of the 20 on five of those occasions.

OBJ: Punt Returner?

With Ben McAdoo trying to gain any advantage that he could, he had Odell Beckham Jr. return punts. Unfortunately, however, he didn't make much of an impact (four returns with a long of 12).

Grade: B+