The Giants finally got the kind of win that has been missing against Dallas for years: one that mattered, one they controlled, and one they finished. New York’s 28-20 victory over the Cowboys snapped a long stretch of frustration in a meaningful game between the two teams, and it did it with a formula that looked deliberate from start to finish.
This wasn’t an offense built on fireworks. It was built on staying on schedule, stacking plays, and squeezing the life out of Dallas with long drives.
Jaxson Dart didn’t need to launch the ball all over the field to make it work. He completed neither of his two throws longer than 20 yards, and his longest completion was a 15-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely.
Even so, he still finished with 230 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and a 134.2 QB rating.
The bigger story was how rarely the Cowboys had the ball. The Giants owned time of possession 36:40 to 23:20, and that edge came from repeating the same kinds of answers over and over again.
Likely was central to it, catching 8 passes on 8 targets for 78 yards, including a sharp touchdown grab in the back of the end zone where he got both feet down. For now, he looks like the key piece in the passing game.
Dart also added 54 yards on keepers, including three scrambles and nine designed runs, but he did a much better job than last season of protecting himself.
The run game gave the whole operation its backbone. Cam Skattebo kept rolling, grinding out 81 yards on 18 carries with the kind of physical style that keeps defenders on their heels.
The Giants also got their first real look at the Patrick Ricard package, with Ricard on the field for 27 of the team’s 35 rushing plays. In practice, that meant the ball was usually headed behind him.
It wasn’t the kind of offense that lights up a highlight reel, and that may take some getting used to. But when it leads to points and controls the game the way it did here, it works.
Malik Nabers’ return was another major development. His status wasn’t settled until close to kickoff, but he ended up playing and catching 6 passes on 9 targets for 69 yards.
Those numbers don’t scream star turn, but he was still an important part of the offense and seemed relieved afterward. Malachi Fields also made his debut, catching 2 passes for 25 yards.
On defense, the Giants didn’t bring Dak Prescott down once, but they still made life hard on him. They pressured him 9 times, and he went 0 for 8 when he had to throw under pressure. When kept clean, though, Prescott was 22 of 26, which tells the story of where this defense still has work to do.
The pressure came from a few different places. Abdul Carter, Chauncey Golston, and Kayvon Thibodeaux all got to Prescott multiple times, while Brian Burns had a quieter night. Even without a sack, the pass rush kept Dallas from settling in.
The run defense was just as important. Dallas managed only 69 rushing yards, with just one run of 10 yards, and that came from Prescott.
Tremaine Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese both stood out against the run. Edmunds finished with 7 tackles and 1 assist, Reese had 5 tackles, and Golston added 2 tackles and 2 assists.
The Cowboys never found much room inside, and they weren’t turning the corner outside either.
There are still issues in the secondary, and this game didn’t hide them. The Giants don’t appear to have a cornerback group that can be trusted yet, and that’s a problem that could show up fast next week against Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Dru Phillips was flagged for three pass interference penalties, including one that was described as pretty iffy. Deonte Banks gave up a touchdown, though he looked more competitive than he has over the last two seasons.
Paulson Adebo was beaten twice on three targets. The one clear bright spot was Jevon Holland, who intercepted a pass and allowed only one completion.
There was also a notable shift in the backfield. Skattebo looks like RB1 already, even after coming back from a serious season-ending injury.
Tyrone Tracy’s night went in the other direction quickly; he fumbled on his second carry and spent the rest of the game on the bench. Devin Singletary didn’t pile up rushing yards, but he kept making catches on swing passes, over and over, without Dallas adjusting.
Najee Harris is there if needed, but Tracy’s role is now very much in question. After the game Harbaugh greeted him warmly, so maybe he’ll be back in the rotation in LA.
In Other News...
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Cowboys Let A Winnable Night In New York Slip Away Fast
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New York answered with a quick touchdown drive before halftime and never let the Cowboys get back on even footing. From there, Dallas spent the second half chasing the game instead of controlling it, and the Giants stayed in front all the way to a 28-20 finish. [Read more 🡒]