The Giants finally got the kind of win that’s been missing from this matchup for years: a 28-20 result over the Cowboys in a game that actually mattered to both teams. That hadn’t happened since 2016, and for New York, it felt like a long overdue break from a stretch where Dallas had mostly owned the series. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys had piled up points against the Giants for years, but this one flipped the script.
The difference started with how the Giants played offense. It wasn’t flashy, and it didn’t need to be.
Jaxson Dart took just two shots downfield longer than 20 yards and missed on both, but he still finished with 230 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 134.2 QB rating. His longest completion was a 15-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely, and that pretty much summed up the night: efficient, controlled, and tough to get off the field against.
New York’s grip on the game showed up in the clock. The Giants held the ball for 36:40, while Dallas had it for 23:20.
That kind of gap doesn’t happen by accident. It came from long, repetitive drives built on the same core pieces over and over.
Likely was a central part of it, finishing with 78 yards on eight catches in eight targets, including the key back-of-the-end-zone grab with both feet down. Dart also added 54 yards on keepers, with three scrambles and nine designed runs, and for once he mostly protected himself.
It wasn’t a highlight-reel offense, but it looked like one he understood completely.
The ground game fit the plan, too. Cam Skattebo kept rolling as the human bowling ball, finishing with 81 yards on 18 carries.
The Giants also got their first real look at the Patrick Ricard experience, with Ricard on the field for 27 of the team’s 35 rushing plays. Wherever he lined up, the ball seemed to be headed behind him.
Malik Nabers’ return was another major development. There was real uncertainty about whether he’d play until close to kickoff, but he suited up and made an impact with six catches on nine targets for 69 yards.
It wasn’t the kind of stat line that made him a rookie sensation, but it still mattered. Nabers looked relieved afterward, and the Giants also got Malachi Fields’ debut, with Fields catching two passes for 25 yards.
Defensively, the Giants didn’t get a sack, but they did enough to keep Prescott uncomfortable. They pressured him nine times, and he went 0-for-8 when forced to throw under pressure.
When he had time, he was sharp, going 22-for-26 with a clean pocket. Abdul Carter, Chauncey Golston and Kayvon Thibodeaux all got to Prescott multiple times, and even with Brian Burns quiet, the rush still made life hard for Dallas.
The run defense stood out, too. Dallas managed only 69 rushing yards, and the Cowboys had just one run of 10 yards or more, a scramble by Prescott.
Tremaine Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese were active against the run, with Edmunds recording seven tackles and one assist and Reese adding five tackles. Golston chipped in with two tackles and two assists.
Dallas never really found room up the middle, and it wasn’t able to turn the corner on the edge often enough to matter.
The secondary, though, remains a concern. Even with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens making the assignment difficult, the Giants’ corners had issues.
Dru Phillips drew three pass interference penalties, including one that was pretty iffy. Deonte Banks gave up a touchdown, though he did look more competitive than he has in the past two seasons.
Paulson Adebo was beaten twice on three targets. Jevon Holland was the exception, picking off a pass and allowing only one completion.
That’s encouraging, but the next test comes against Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
There’s also a backfield question brewing. Skattebo clearly sits at RB1 after looking fully like himself.
Tyrone Tracy, on the other hand, fumbled on his second carry and spent the rest of the night on the bench. Devin Singletary quietly contributed as a receiver, catching swing pass after swing pass without Dallas adjusting, and Najee Harris is there if needed.
Still, Tracy’s role now looks shaky, and after the game Harbaugh greeted him warmly, so maybe he’ll be back in the rotation in LA.
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Cam Skattebo Return Sparked A Giants Controversy Fans Wont Ignore
Cam Skattebos return gave the Giants a physical jolt in the backfield after he came back from a right ankle dislocation and fractured fibula, and he wasted little time showing why he matters to their offense. Against the Cowboys, he handled 17 carries, picked up 73 rushing yards and found the end zone, while also flashing the kind of grit that has made him easy to notice since arriving in New York.
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There was a little more of New York in the building than usual, too, with former Giants players Wan'Dale Robinson, Daniel Bellinger, Cordale Flott and Austin Schlottmann all making their Titans debuts. It was a reminder that the ex-Giants pipeline is still moving, even if the result in Dabolls first outing left Tennessee searching for answers after a sluggish start. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Fans Are All Saying The Same Thing About NBCs Booth
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The reaction mostly turned into speculation about the on-air dynamic between Collinsworth and Mike Tirico, even though there has been no official explanation from either broadcaster. Off the air, the two are understood to have generally had a positive working relationship, which only added to the intrigue for fans who were left wondering whether the moment was just a weird broadcast hiccup or something more. [Read more 🡒]