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Fact or Fiction: Keys & predictions for Week 2

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The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

Containing WR CeeDee Lamb is the Giants' top defensive priority.

John Schmeelk: Fact - Stopping the run is always important, but the Cowboys do not have a gamebreaker in the backfield. They have two wide receivers that can wreck a game in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Lamb is Dak Prescott's number one target. He averaged ten targets a game last season, and finished with 13 in Week 1, which was third most in the league before Thursday night's game between the Commanders and Packers. He had seven catches for 100 yards, but could have had twice as many if not for four or five passes that he had a chance to catch but didn't. They will move Lamb everywhere, making him tough to shadow. He can win over the top with speed, win on contested catches, and run after the catch on short passes. Lamb will be a focus of the Cowboys offense, and the Giants have to keep him under control.

Matt Citak: Fiction – Lamb is one of the top overall playmakers in the NFL, so I expect him to have some level of success regardless of the attention the defense might give him. To me, the top defensive priority is getting pressure on Dak Prescott. The veteran is one of the best quarterbacks when it comes to decision-making and getting the ball out quickly. If the Giants' pass rush can get in his face and make him uncomfortable in the pocket, it could lead to some mistakes (he had eight interceptions in just eight games last year). But again, that's a big if with how quickly he's able to read defenses.

Establishing the run is the Giants' top offensive priority.

John Schmeelk: Fact - You cannot put this entire game on the shoulders of Russell Wilson and the offensive line in pass protection by constantly getting into 2nd and 3rd and long situations, something that was far too common in Week 1. Seven of the Giants' third down attempts were for more than 6 yards. If the Giants find themselves in those situations again, it will allow Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to open his playbook and run whatever he desires. The Cowboys allowed only one completion of 15 or more yards last week, tied for the fewest in the NFL. They played a lot of two high zone and kept everything in front of them. They also broke out some defensive back blitzes in the second half, which proved effective. If the Giants can run the ball, it will put them in the driver's seat in being productive on second and third downs.

Matt Citak: Fact – Without the threat of the run game, the offense could not do much last week. We know Russell Wilson's bread and butter is his play-action passing, but the it won't be effective if the defense isn't concerned about your run game. Establishing the run will not only help the Giants get into more manageable third downs, but it will also help open things up in the passing game. The Giants need to get the run game going early on Sunday.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys.

WR/Returner KaVontae Turpin is the Cowboys' X-factor on Sunday.

John Schmeelk: Fiction - Turpin is a good choice, especially with how much the Cowboys put him in motion and got him the ball last week (2 catches, two runs, four kick returns), but I am going to go with George Pickens. Pickens has star talent and is especially effective at catching the deep ball. If the Giants have to double team CeeDee Lamb or drop a safety into the box and play single high coverage, I expect Prescott to give Pickens a number of opportunities in one-on-one coverage down the sideline to make big plays. Pickens is big, fast, and excellent at the catch point. The Giants have to make sure he doesn't have his first big game as a Cowboy against them on Sunday.

Matt Citak: Fact – As talented as Lamb is, Turpin could have the biggest impact on Sunday. Turpin is one of the NFL's best returners, and given the significant increase in kickoff returns in Week 1, I expect the 5-foot-9 speedster to get plenty of opportunities. Other than trying to not kick the ball to him, there isn't a whole lot you can do to prepare for him. The biggest thing for the kickoff coverage team will be tackling. If you have an opportunity to make a tackle on Turpin, you can't miss it because one missed with him could easily lead to a 100-yard touchdown.

RB Cam Skattebo is the Giants' X-factor on Sunday.

John Schmeelk: Fiction - The Giants' X-factor could be whoever their second cornerback is on defense, but I already talked about Lamb and Pickens so I will look elsewhere. I am going to cheat, and go with a narrow position group: the Giants' interior offensive line. The Cowboys' two best players up front may now be defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa. The Giants struggled to keep defenders out of Wilson's face last week, and it effected the passing game. They will have to secure the depth of the pocket this week, or Wilson, only 5'11, will once again have trouble finding his receivers over much taller defensive linemen rushing up the middle. The interior lines' play will also greatly impact the run game, which needs to be better this week if the Giants want to win.

Matt Citak: Fiction – I liked what we saw from Skattebo in his NFL debut last week, despite what the final box score looked like. But the Giants' X-factor this weekend, at least on the offensive side of the ball, is tight end Theo Johnson. The second-year tight end had just one reception in the season opener while dropping a couple of passes, but he will have a good opportunity to bounce back against the Cowboys. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert had a team-high seven receptions on seven targets in the opener, and Johnson could be looking at a large number of targets this weekend, too. All it will take is a couple of big catches from Johnson to potentially be a difference-maker in this divisional game.

View rare photos from the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

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