New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is pushing back after Pro Football Focus (PFF) posted stats claiming that Cowboys rookie center Cooper Beebe allowed zero pressure in 22 pass-blocking snaps during their recent matchup. Lawrence, however, isn’t buying into the hype and took to social media to share his perspective.
In a now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Lawrence responded to PFF’s grading with a GIF implying a “butt-whooping” and stated, “Don’t hype this, he knows how the game went.”
New York Giants vs Detroit Lions training camp fight
Quick passes and penalties aid Cowboys’ rookie center
While Beebe’s clean sheet in pass protection appears impressive on paper, Lawrence argues that the stats don’t paint the full picture. One significant factor working in Beebe’s favor was the excellent form of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. According to Next Gen Stats, Prescott managed to release the ball in under 2.5 seconds on 14 throws, completing 13 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. This quick-release strategy limited the Giants‘ ability to generate pressure, skewing the perception of Beebe’s performance.
Penalties also played a big role in the game. In the first half alone, the Cowboys were penalized nine times for a total of 70 yards, often slowing their momentum. Lawrence likely would point to these errors as evidence that the Giants‘ defensive line did enough to disrupt the Cowboys‘ offense, even if the sack numbers didn’t show it.
Beebe’s rising star and Lawrence’s frustrations
Cooper Beebe is transitioning smoothly into his new position as center, despite spending most of his college career as a guard. But Lawrence, a seasoned veteran, wasn’t outplayed as easily as the stats might suggest. Though he didn’t record a sack, Lawrence contributed two tackles and helped limit Dallas‘ offense overall.
In fact, New York outgained Dallas 303 to 293 yards and dominated time of possession, holding the ball for over 35 minutes compared to Dallas‘ 24. The real issue for the Giants was their offense, which struggled with poor red zone efficiency, not Lawrence’s battle with Beebe.
While the rookie center is gaining attention, Dexter Lawrence’s pointed response highlights the nuance that goes beyond basic stat lines.
