New York Giants Giants confident they can flip battle of trenches with Cowboys on its head: ‘Going to make a statement’ By Ryan Dunleavy Published Sep. 9, 2026, 8:28 p.m. ET Center John Michael Schmitz Jr. of the New York Giants is all smiles on the field during warm-ups before the first half at MetLife Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Every little brother dreams of turning the tables on his tormentor.
The Giants’ time to return years of punishment and push around the Cowboys on both sides of the line of scrimmage might finally be here.
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“Now is the time to win,” edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, the longest-tenured Giants defensive player, told The Post. “The game is definitely won up front. This is the year to do it.”
The days of the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons — off to the Seahawks and Packers, respectively — running through blocks and taunting unprotected Eli Manning and Daniel Jones are over. The retired combination of Zack Martin and Tyron Smith no longer form a brick wall in front of Dak Prescott — and now All-Pro guard Tyler Smith is on the shelf, too.
