You’d think a game between two teams already circling the drain of a lost season wouldn't matter much. Honestly, that’s where most people got it wrong about the Week 18 finale. The final Dallas Cowboys New York Giants score of 34-17 didn’t just end a miserable 2025 campaign; it felt like a weird, symbolic passing of the torch in the NFC East basement.
MetLife Stadium was freezing on January 4, 2026. The Giants came in with a measly three wins. The Cowboys were 7-9-1, clinging to a tiny shred of dignity. What followed wasn't a hard-fought rivalry classic. It was a demolition.
The Numbers Behind the Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Score
If you just look at the box score, you see a blowout. But the "how" is way more interesting than the "what." Dallas actually led 10-6 early on. Then, the wheels didn't just fall off; they exploded.
Dak Prescott, who had been statistically incredible all year (leading the league in passing yards, by the way), only played the first half. He went 7-for-11 for 70 yards and lost a fumble. It was his 10th season in Dallas, and it ended with him on the bench watching Joe Milton III try to figure out a professional pass rush.
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The Giants' rookie sensation Jaxson Dart basically used the Dallas secondary as a practice squad. He threw for two scores, while Devin Singletary put the nail in the coffin with a 6-yard touchdown run late in the fourth.
- Final Score: Giants 34, Cowboys 17
- Total Yards: Giants 380, Cowboys 286
- Turnovers: Dallas 3, New York 1
- Third Down Efficiency: Giants 57%, Cowboys 25%
Why This Game Ruined the Giants' Draft (Sorta)
Here is the irony. Giants fans were cheering, but the front office might have been sweating. By winning this game and finishing the season on a two-game win streak, the Giants actually tumbled out of a top-two draft pick.
They moved down to the #5 overall spot for the 2026 NFL Draft. Is a win over a hated rival worth losing out on a generational tackle or a franchise-altering edge rusher? In New York, the answer depends on who you ask at the bar. For John Mara, who got an emotional game ball in the locker room, the win was everything. For the "tank for picks" crowd, it was a disaster.
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The Chaos You Missed on the Field
The game wasn't just about the Dallas Cowboys New York Giants score. It was about the lack of discipline. At one point, Cowboys rookie defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku literally ripped the helmet off a Giants lineman. He got ejected, obviously.
That specific moment led to a New York two-point conversion where Singletary—the running back—threw a pass to Darius Slayton. It was that kind of day. Dallas looked like a team that had already checked into their vacation rentals in Cabo.
Looking Ahead to 2026
So, what now? The Cowboys are staring at a massive $74 million cap hit for Dak Prescott in 2026. They don't have many options but to run it back and hope the defense stops playing like they're on skates.
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The Giants, meanwhile, seem to have found something in Jaxson Dart. They have weapons like Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson, who both torched Dallas in their earlier September matchup (remember that 40-37 overtime thriller?). If they can fix that offensive line with their #5 pick, the NFC East might actually have to take them seriously again.
If you're looking to track how these rosters shift before the 2026 preseason kicks off, keep a close eye on the following:
- The Dallas Coaching Search: With the season ending at 7-10-1, the seat under the current staff isn't just warm; it's melting.
- Free Agency Targets: Dallas needs secondary help, and the Giants desperately need a veteran presence on the O-line to protect Dart.
- The Draft Order: Watch the trade market around that #5 pick. New York might move back to recoup some of the value they lost by winning this game.
The 2025 season is officially in the rearview mirror. For Dallas, the 34-17 loss is a scar. For New York, it’s a confusing bit of momentum that complicates their future. Either way, the rivalry remains the loudest mess in football.