Cowboys vs. Giants predictions and live updates: NFL Thursday Night Football score, odds and latest

The vibes around the Cowboys revolve around the journey more than the destination. Having a 1-2 record is never ideal, but it would feel a lot better for Cowboys fans if it was a couple of close losses. Instead, the Cowboys’ lone win — Week 1 against Cleveland — looks less impressive with each passing week.

Not only have the Cowboys lost their last two games — both at home, where they came into the season riding a 16-game, regular-season winning streak — but they’ve been absolutely embarrassed. The loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 was an atrocity, as the 44-19 final score aptly conveys. The three-point loss Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens looks way better on the scoreboard than in actuality. The Cowboys trailed 28-6 a few minutes into the fourth quarter before a late rally fell short.

The primary reasons for this demoralizing start were incredibly predictable. The Cowboys can’t stop the run, something that was an issue last season, too, and went largely unaddressed in the offseason. They can’t even pose a minimal threat with their own running game, and both sides of the ball contribute to bad starts to games that are hard to rebound from.

The only silver lining is that the Cowboys have maintained a clean bill of health and should get reinforcements in the way of defensive back DaRon Bland returning soon. But optimism is hard to come by in Dallas these days.