EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Giants struck first and never let the Cowboys fully take control.
New York opened the scoring Sunday night at MetLife Stadium and repeatedly found answers whenever Dallas threatened to swing the momentum. The Cowboys battled back behind Dak Prescott and the offense, but the Giants’ big plays proved too much to overcome in a 28-20 victory over Dallas.
The loss was especially frustrating for a Cowboys team that entered the season expecting its revamped defense to be a difference-maker.
Instead, Dallas struggled to contain New York’s explosive plays and had difficulty getting off the field. Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart took advantage, keeping the pressure on a Cowboys defense that spent much of the night trying to recover from one big play after another.
Dallas did create some momentum-changing moments.
Caleb Downs brought down Dart for a key defensive play, and the Cowboys came up with a turnover while the Giants were driving. But New York continued to capitalize on opportunities and eventually turned those chances into points.
Dallas answered in the second quarter when Dak Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb on a 1-yard touchdown pass, giving the Cowboys’ offense a much-needed spark.
The connection also added another milestone to Prescott’s career. With two touchdown passes on the night, Prescott moved to 245 career passing touchdowns, leaving him just three behind Tony Romo’s franchise record of 248.
Lamb also made a little history of his own. His 44 receiving yards moved him past Dez Bryant and into fifth place on the Cowboys’ all-time receiving list.
Javonte Williams added a 1-yard touchdown run as Dallas continued to battle its way back.
But every time the Cowboys appeared ready to seize momentum, New York answered.
The Giants took a 14-7 lead into halftime and extended their advantage to 21-7. Dart continued to find Isaiah Likely, who caught two touchdown passes and played a major role in keeping the Giants’ offense moving.
The Cowboys continued to fight offensively and eventually made the game competitive again, but they couldn’t produce enough defensive stops to complete the comeback.
Despite the loss, Dallas’ offense continued a remarkable streak. The Cowboys recorded 21 first downs, extending their run of games with at least 15 first downs to 25 consecutive contests, dating to Week 11 of the 2024 season — the longest active streak in the NFL.
The Cowboys and Giants have now opened the season against each other 13 times, with Dallas holding an 11-2 record in the previous 12 meetings. This time, however, New York added another chapter to the rivalry.
The Cowboys leave New Jersey 0-1 after a night in which the offense showed flashes but the defense struggled to contain New York’s big plays. Dallas will look to turn the page when the Washington Commanders visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3:25 p.m. CT.
