Overview:
The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 in their season opener at MetLife Stadium. Jaxson Dart threw three touchdown passes to help New York control the second half and limit Dallas to only two offensive possessions. Despite late scores by Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams, the Cowboys fell to 0-1 following a series of penalties and defensive struggles.
Sunday night saw the Dallas Cowboys spending the bulk of their time trying to close a gap.
Dallas cut the deficit to eight late in the fourth quarter, but never got the ball back.
Jaxson Dart threw three touchdowns, Cam Skattebo rushed for 81 yards and the New York Giants controlled the second half as the Cowboys lost 28-20 in their season opener at MetLife Stadium.
The loss dropped Dallas to 0-1 after losing its first division matchup of the year. Dallas finished with just two offensive possessions in the second half, scoring touchdowns on each one, but the slow start, nine penalties and poor defensive effort proved to be too much.
The Giants finished with 394 yards of total offense and possessed the ball for 36 minutes and 40 seconds. New York converted 9 of 11 third downs and scored touchdowns on all four of its trips into the red zone.
“They were the more physical team tonight. That’s certainly not our standard. It’s certainly not how we see our identity playing,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said.
Skattebo finished New York’s opening drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Giants a 7-0 lead.
Dallas tied the game in the second quarter when Dak Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb for a touchdown from 1 yard out.
After Quinnen Williams forced a fumble from Tyrone Tracy and Shavon Revel recovered, the Cowboys had another chance to take the lead but failed to score.
Prescott then threw a costly interception.
Trying to throw the ball away while under pressure, Prescott left the ball up for grabs. Jevón Holland intercepted the pass to give the Giants another scoring chance before the break.
“I’m trying to throw the ball away,” Prescott said. “That guy made a hell of a play. I’ve got to make sure it’s out of bounds though.”
New York took advantage.
Dart found Isaiah Likely for a 15-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the half to give the Giants a 14-7 lead. New York received the kickoff to start the second half and scored again on a Dart pass to Likely for his second touchdown.
“They scored before half, they got the ball right to start half and they went and scored,” Prescott said. “Limited our possessions in the second half, only gave us two possessions and that was the game right there.”
Dallas struck next on its best drive of the game.
The Cowboys marched 75 yards on 12 plays before Javonte Williams had a 1-yard touchdown run to bring Dallas within seven. Dallas now needed a stop on defense, one that never came.
Dart continued to pick apart the Cowboys defense through the air and with his feet. He eventually found Devin Singletary for a 9-yard touchdown to put New York up 28-14.
Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He had no interceptions and added 54 yards on the ground. The Giants finished with 165 rushing yards.
“We did not get enough pressure on him,” Schottenheimer said. “He looked pretty comfortable back there.”
Third down proved to be another problem for Dallas. Rookie safety Caleb Downs said the defense simply did not do enough to end possessions.
“That’s always frustrating as a defense when you don’t get off the field,” Downs said. “That’s part of the job. And we didn’t do it at a high level today.”
Quinnen Williams said the Cowboys have to take responsibility for the mistakes that allowed New York to continue extending drives.
“We had a lot of mental errors, a lot of busts today,” Williams said. “We gotta definitely look in the mirror, especially as a defense.”
Dallas had only one offensive possession in each quarter of the second half, but Prescott made the final one count.
He found Javonte Williams for a 17-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to cut Dallas’ deficit to eight. Dallas wanted to go for two to cut the lead to six, but Williams was flagged for taunting after the score. The 15-yard penalty changed the situation, and Dallas instead attempted a longer extra point. Brandon Aubrey missed.
Williams accepted the blame after the game.
“I’m a pro,” Williams said. “I know better than that. I shouldn’t have did it. I’m going to correct it.”
Dallas finished with nine penalties for 90 yards.
The Cowboys did not get another possession as New York took over with 5:16 remaining and ran the rest of the time off the clock.
“No, no communication issues,” Von Miller said. “We just got beat.”
Prescott finished 22 of 34 for 175 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Lamb caught five passes for 44 yards and one touchdown. George Pickens finished with three receptions for 28 yards. Williams rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 31 yards and another score.
The Cowboys finished with 244 yards of total offense and 69 yards on the ground.
Lamb said the limited number of possessions could not be used as an excuse for Dallas’ lack of production.
“When we do get our opportunities, we do got to make the most of it,” Lamb said. “Say 52 plays, we got like 20 points. It’s not enough.”
Safety Malik Hooker left the game with what Schottenheimer called a possible fractured forearm. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown left with a hamstring injury.
Dallas will host the Washington Commanders next Sunday at AT&T Stadium for another NFC East showdown.
“This is a humbling business,” Schottenheimer said. “We got humbled tonight.”
Prescott said one bad loss will not change Dallas.
“It sucks to lose,” Prescott said. “Damn sure sucks to lose the first one to this team, a division game. But still optimistic. That doesn’t change our goals, doesn’t change how we feel about our team.”
