Giants' first-round picks can only get better after dismal showing vs. Cowboys - New York Post

The Cowboys were next and figured to be easy marks without Dak Prescott on Monday night at MetLife.

The prospect of an unimaginable 4-0 start began to dance in the heads of some Giants fans right up until the point at which Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence took rookie right tackle Evan Neal, the seventh overall pick in April’s draft, prisoner in the first half with a pass-rushing performance right out of the Lawrence Taylor how-to handbook.

Thoughts of beating up on the Prescott-less Cowboys offense danced in the heads of Giants fans, too, until Dallas backup quarterback Cooper Rush played like Earl Morrall, thanks in large part to an invisible Giants pass rush.

They can’t get worse than they were on the big stage Monday night, right.

But Monday night was not a good look.

What was a good look was Neal, showered and dressed in street clothes after the game, dutifully waiting at his locker to speak to reporters when they were let into the locker room.

Neal will be better for what happened Monday night, and being better begins with how he handled himself after the game.

Thibs’ first game as a pro, [he] did some good things, but some things we definitely need to get better and work at.’’.

Even at 2-0, there were a lot of things the Giants needed to get better and work at — and they took a step back against the Cowboys.

And the good news is that it’s likely that Neal and Thibodeaux won’t end up as bad as they looked Monday night as they move forward to the next game