In Week 4, “Thursday Night Football” presents another exciting chapter in the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, two teams in the NFC East. They have met 124 times in the NFL since 1960 and collectively hold nine Super Bowl championships.

This game marks the first of two encounters in 2024, with both teams facing challenges in their early season. The Giants rank among the bottom in scoring offense; however, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has shown promise. Meanwhile, the Cowboys struggle defensively, but cornerback Trevon Diggs has performed notably well according to Sports Information Solutions (SIS) statistics.

This matchup is the inaugural face-off between these two players in the NFL, but tensions are already brewing. Here’s how this rivalry between Nabers and Diggs came to be:

How Trevon Diggs and Malik Nabers’ Rivalry Began

Nabers, selected as the No. 6 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was asked who he was most eager to face during the offseason. His response was Diggs.

In response to Nabers’ comment, Diggs highlighted Dallas’ impressive 13-1 record against New York over their last 14 matchups.

Nabers then reacted to a video of this exchange posted on X with a coffin emoji, which was followed by Diggs adding a ninja emoji to a subsequent video.

Malik Nabers’ Recent Thoughts on Trevon Diggs

<pLater, Nabers clarified that his initial comment was meant as a compliment to Diggs, considering him the top cornerback he’s excited to compete against. He mentioned to Giants beat reporter Dan Duggan that Diggs is an excellent corner and looks forward to the competition.

When queried on Tuesday, Nabers downplayed the escalating rivalry, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the game instead of the drama.

Typically, Diggs doesn’t shadow opposing teams’ top receivers, but he might consider it this week. Nabers currently leads the league in targets with 37 and ranks fifth in receiving yards at 271, making him a crucial element in the Giants’ offensive strategy this season.