Current score for Dallas Cowboys: What really happened in the season finale

Current score for Dallas Cowboys: What really happened in the season finale

So, the dust has finally settled on the 2025-2026 NFL regular season, and if you’re looking for the current score for dallas cowboys, the news isn't exactly what anyone in North Texas wanted to hear. They wrapped things up with a thud.

The Cowboys finished their season on January 4, 2026, with a 17-34 loss against the New York Giants.

It was a weird one. Honestly, going into MetLife Stadium, most people expected Dallas to handle business against a Giants team that had only managed three wins all year. Instead, the Cowboys stumbled. They looked flat. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the game was essentially out of reach.

Breaking down the current score for dallas cowboys

The scoreboard tells a story of two halves. Dallas actually jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first quarter. Brandon Aubrey knocked through a 22-yard field goal, and Jaydon Blue punched in a 14-yard rushing touchdown. It felt like a standard "take care of business" afternoon.

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Then the wheels fell off.

Between the second and third quarters, the Cowboys scored exactly zero points. The Giants, led by rookie Jaxson Dart, just kept chipping away. Dart found Daniel Bellinger for a 29-yard score and later connected with Tyrone Tracy Jr. to extend the lead.

  • Final Score: Giants 34, Cowboys 17
  • The Quarter Breakdown: 10-0-0-7 for Dallas.
  • The Damage: 380 total yards surrendered to a 4-13 Giants team.

Watching Dak Prescott exit after halftime was probably the biggest "tell" of the day. He finished 7-of-11 for 70 yards before Joe Milton III took over. Milton struggled, throwing a late interception to Bobby Okereke that basically iced the game.

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Why this score matters for the offseason

You've gotta wonder where the leadership goes from here. Finishing 7-9-1 is a bitter pill. It's the kind of record that leaves you in "no man's land"—not good enough for the playoffs, but not bad enough for a top-three draft pick.

The defense, coordinated by Matt Eberflus, gave up 30-plus points yet again. That’s been the recurring nightmare for this roster. While Jadeveon Clowney had a monster game with three sacks and a forced fumble, the secondary couldn't get off the field on third down. The Giants converted 8-of-14 third downs. You just can't win like that in the NFL.

The fallout of a 7-9-1 season

Because the Cowboys missed the playoffs, they aren't playing this week. While teams like the Eagles and 49ers were duking it out in the Wild Card round (with Philly actually losing 23-19 to San Francisco), the Cowboys were already cleaning out their lockers.

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It’s a tough look when your division rival, the Eagles, makes the dance with an 11-6 record and you're sitting at home because of a tie against Green Bay earlier in the year. That 40-40 draw in September really came back to haunt them.

Looking toward 2026

Basically, the "current score" for the franchise is a total rebuild of expectations. Brian Schottenheimer is under the microscope. The fans are restless.

If you're tracking the team right now, the focus has shifted entirely to the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. The window with this specific core feels like it's slamming shut, or at least getting very heavy.

Next Steps for Cowboys Fans:

  1. Monitor the coaching staff: Watch for potential changes in the defensive room after the unit collapsed in the final month.
  2. Draft Order: Dallas will likely pick in the middle of the first round; keep an eye on interior defensive line prospects.
  3. Salary Cap: With several big contracts aging, the front office has some "creative accounting" to do before March.

The season is over, and the 17-34 loss to the Giants is the final stamp on a year defined by "what ifs."