FRISCO -- First-year Giants head coach Pat Shurmur sees the Cowboys duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott as a threat.

Safety Landon Collins is less sure.

Collins, who's notched Pro Bowl berths the past two years for his work in New York's secondary, told reporters Wednesday he knows which poison he'd pick.

"Honestly, we really just have to focus on stopping Zeke," Collins said. "Making sure every run gap, we're playing our gap assignments and make sure we close the air out of their running game.

"If we do that, put the ball into Dak's hands, I think we have a better shot at winning."

Both Dallas and New York are coming off season-opening losses, the Giants a 20-15 fall to Jacksonville and the Cowboys a 16-8 loss at Carolina. Collins had four tackles as Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley almost salvaged the game with a 68-yard touchdown run.

In Carolina, the Cowboys offense struggled.

Prescott didn't throw an interception, but he completed 19 of 29 passes for just 170 yards and an 81.1 quarterback rating. He was sacked six times. No receiver other than Cole Beasley caught balls for more than 30 yards.

Elliott rushed for 69 yards and the Cowboys' only score on 15 attempts, catching three balls for 17 more yards. Prescott found the end zone for a two-point conversion after Elliott's score.

Emphasizing run defense shouldn't come as a surprise, Elliott said when asked about Collins' comment on Wednesday.

"I mean I feel like that's how every defense is going to play us," Elliott said. "We have a lot of playmakers on our side, Dak's a playmaker himself. So like I said, it comes down to what we do: If we go out there and execute and stay on schedule, we'll be just fine."

It doesn't hurt that Prescott has a short memory and looks forward, Elliott said.

Shurmur, for his part, is still looking back as the Giants study Cowboys game film from Carolina. The afternoon largely consisted of futile third downs for Dallas, who converted on just 2 of 11.

But Prescott's run ability was a threat, Shurmur said.

"Because Dak is such a threat to run the football, that adds another element that the defense has to account for," Shurmur told SportsDay on Wednesday. "I thought he moved around well last week.

"And then they do a good job kicking the ball out to the perimeter on their [run-pass options] and run game, which can be -- they appear like they're just short, quick throws. But they got a chance to be explosive."

Shurmur said the Cowboys' Week 1 offense impressed him.

"Quite frankly, when Dak drops back to pass, they got good scheme in terms of their passing scheme," said Shurmur, who's spent seasons at offensive coordinator for the Rams, Eagles and Vikings. "It looks like something he's able to deal with and work with. But if you rush him and let him get outside the pocket, he's got the ability to throw I guess what I would call 60-yard checkdowns on the run.

"He's a big, strong guy who can get the ball down the field or just run it and move the chains."

It will be the job of Collins, who'd prefer the ball in Prescott's hands, to stop Prescott's dual-threat capabilities in the NFC East matchup Sunday. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett doesn't underestimate the defensive back.

"You certainly have to account for [Collins] in both the run game and the pass game," Garrett said Wednesday. "Not only do you have to account for him, you have to execute well against him. He defeats blocks and he gets around the ball and he makes plays.

"He can do everything."

The Cowboys and Giants kick off 7:20 p.m. Sunday.

Twitter: @JoriEpstein