Giants vow to fix run game after Week 1 flop ahead of Cowboys

The New York Giants declared their lack of a rushing attack in the season opener a personal failure and said they will emphasize physicality and fundamentals when they face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

New York managed 15 rushes for 30 yards against Washington, a performance players and coaches said removed one of quarterback Russell Wilson’s biggest weapons — play-action passing — and left the offense one-dimensional. "We definitely took it personal," running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. said. Tracy carried 10 times for 24 yards and finished with 13 fewer rush yards than expected, according to NextGenStats.

Coaches pointed to specific calls and execution as reasons the ground game stalled. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said the staff tried to be aggressive, noting the first play from the 1-yard line in the opener was an incomplete pass to backup offensive tackle Marcus Mbow. "First-down call, you have the ability to use those types of calls because really the defense doesn’t know, are you running it? Are you throwing it?" Kafka said. Tracy said he and others told coaches they should have run the ball on that snap. "To do the play-action pass off the 1-yard line, you have to run the ball first," he said.

The team called 12 passes and just one rush inside the red zone, including six of seven red-zone plays as passes when the game was within one score in the first half. The imbalance limited opportunities for play-action, an area where Wilson has excelled over his recent seasons. Pro Football Focus tracked Wilson with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on play-action since 2020, and he completed at least 64.7 percent of those attempts in four of five full seasons. In Week 1, only 20 percent of his attempts came after a play fake and he attempted just one pass of 20 yards or more.

The Giants’ offensive line acknowledged it must be better after being pushed off the ball by Washington’s front. Center John Michael Schmitz said the group has emphasized details at practice and the need to be physical to create holes for running backs. "We know we weren’t good enough in the run game, and we know it has to be better," Schmitz said. Left guard Jon Runyan Jr. said the unit still aims to be among the league’s best and will hold each other accountable to high standards.

Kafka said the issues were a mixture of missed blocks, read keys and timing of play calls. "We just missed," he said. "We have to do a better job on first and second down. We have to do a better job early in the game, get into a rhythm and get our guys going."

The matchup against Dallas presents a familiar challenge. The Cowboys have historically controlled the line of scrimmage in the rivalry, prompting Dallas to prioritize run-stuffing pieces in roster construction last offseason. Dallas acquired three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Kenny Clark from Green Bay as part of those efforts, but the Cowboys still allowed 158 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to the Philadelphia Eagles in their opener, including 68 yards and two touchdowns by quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Giants coaches and players framed the Week 1 performance as a shortcoming that must be corrected quickly, both to help Wilson and to take pressure off the passing game. Tracy said a consistent running attack "puts everybody at ease," and the team intends to establish a more physical identity in the trenches this week.

Sunday’s matchup will test whether New York’s adjustments in practice translate into improved line play and a more balanced offense. Coaches emphasized execution over schematic overhaul, saying fixes are rooted in fundamentals — blocking, reads and consistent physical effort — rather than wholesale changes to the game plan. The Giants said they will rely on those corrections as they attempt to avoid a repeat of the opener and restore the run-pass balance that can unlock Wilson’s play-action strengths.