How Giants are approaching daunting Micah Parsons challenge

There are all sorts of explanations that sometimes morph into excuses when an edge rusher is not taking down the opposing quarterback.

No one can deny this, though: It is impossible to get a sack when the other team is not throwing the ball.

In the past two games, both losses at home, the Cowboys faced teams content to run it down their throats, with the Saints and Ravens combining for only 31 pass attempts.

This explains why pass rusher extraordinaire Micah Parsons has one sack in the first three games.

Make no mistake, this guy still represents a major threat, and Thursday night, the Giants must and will have a plan for him.

Parsons’ 40.5 sacks were the fifth-highest total all-time in the league for a player in his first three seasons and in that span, only Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Trey Hendrickson have more sacks.

“Yeah, dynamic player,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s lined up in a variety of spots. He has the ability to play, really, any position. Explosive, athletic, tough. He’s a hell of a football player. One of the better players in the league. A challenge to block him.”

That challenge will be spread out among the Giants offensive linemen.

Attempting to reduce the number of “chip” blocks he faces on the edges, Parsons not only moves from the right side to the left on the defensive line but also moves inside, probing for the most favorable matchup.

“A little different look,” Parsons said. “I just want to test everyone’s water. I just want to test the pot. I want to see which guy I can, I feel like I can manipulate.”

Left tackle Andrew Thomas is coming off a rough game, by his high standards, and he called last week’s victory in Cleveland “bittersweet” because of his struggles against Garrett.

Now he goes from trying to contain one fire to trying to extinguish another.

The Giants will be without two cornerbacks, Adoree’ Jackson and rookie Dru Phillips, who both came out of the victory over the Browns with calf injuries.

This makes the return of Nick McCloud, who missed the last two games with a knee injury, all the more critical. McCloud is likely to start on the perimeter, moving Cor’Dale Flott inside to the slot.

WR Darius Slayton (thumb) is listed as questionable, and if his playing time is limited that should provide Jalin Hyatt with more snaps.

Through three games, Dexter Lawrence on the defensive line, and not Brian Burns or Kayvon Thibodeaux, is leading the Giants in sacks with three.

That is not a great surprise, as Lawrence is the most dominant player on the roster.

Actually, Lawrence shares the team lead, as safety Jason Pinnock, used as a blitzer, also has three sacks. Would anyone have expected this?

“I would have believed you,” Pinnock said of sharing the sack lead with the 340-pound Lawrence. “But I think everybody else, they’d probably be a little shocked.”

LB Ty Summers was signed to the active roster. Summers was elevated from the practice squad and played in the first three games as a core special teams player.

Will this be a Cowboys takeover at MetLife Stadium?

It could be.

According to Vivid Seats Fan Forecast, the projection is that 39 percent of the tickets purchased were sold to Cowboys fans.