It was loud. Maybe louder than it had any right to be for a team with only three wins entering the stadium. When the final whistle blew on January 4, 2026, the scoreboard at MetLife Stadium read New York Giants 34, Dallas Cowboys 17. For a franchise that spent most of the 2025 season in a tailspin, that new york giants football score felt like a much-needed exhale. It wasn't just a win; it was a dominant, weirdly optimistic end to a year that most fans wanted to delete from their memories.
The Giants finished the 2025 season with a 4-13 record. On paper, it looks terrible. If you just check the standings, you see them at the bottom of the NFC East, trailing the Eagles and Cowboys by a mile. But the energy in East Rutherford during that Week 18 finale told a different story. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, the young signal-caller everyone has been scrutinizing, looked like he finally belonged. He finished 22-of-32 for 230 yards and two touchdowns. No interceptions. That last part is the one that really matters to the people sitting in the upper decks.
Breaking Down the 34-17 Victory
The game started a bit shaky. Honestly, it looked like another "here we go again" afternoon when the Cowboys jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first quarter. But the Giants' defense, led by Brian Burns—who earned a Pro Bowl nod for a reason—started feasting. They made life miserable for Dak Prescott and then Joe Milton III, who eventually took over under center for Dallas.
Ben Sauls was basically the MVP of the first half. He’s a kicker, sure, but he kept the Giants in it early by going 4-for-4 on field goals. His 45-yarder in the first quarter set the tone. Then, things got fun. Right before halftime, Jaxson Dart found Daniel Bellinger for a 29-yard touchdown. You could feel the momentum shift. Suddenly, the new york giants football score wasn't just close; it was leaning Big Blue.
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Key Stats from the Season Finale
The ground game was where the Giants really found their soul. Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a massive day, racking up 159 total yards. He caught a 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that felt like the dagger. Devin Singletary added a 6-yard rushing score late in the fourth to put the game away.
- Jaxson Dart (QB): 230 yards, 2 TDs, 110.2 Passer Rating
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB): 103 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards, 1 TD
- Ben Sauls (K): 4 field goals, including a 45-yarder
- Total Defense: 4 sacks and a forced fumble
It’s worth noting that this win came under interim coach Mike Kafka. Brian Daboll was fired back in November after a Week 10 loss to the Bears left the team at 2-8. Since then, it’s been a revolving door of "what ifs." Kafka managed to go 2-5 during his stint, which isn't exactly Hall of Fame material, but finishing the year with back-to-back wins over the Raiders and Cowboys is a hell of a way to audition for a permanent gig or a high-level coordinator role elsewhere.
The Reality of the 2025 Season
Let's be real: this year was a slog. The Giants started 0-3, and by Week 13, they were 2-11. There was a stretch where they lost eight games in a row. It was brutal. You had games like the Week 2 overtime loss to Dallas (40-37) where the offense actually showed up, and then weeks like the season opener against Washington where they only put up 6 points.
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The defense was the only thing keeping fans from throwing their remotes through the TV. Brian Burns was a monster, earning All-Pro second-team honors. But the offense struggled to find an identity until the very end. They finished 15th in the NFC, which sounds bad because it is. They were the first team eliminated from playoff contention for the second year in a row. That’s a stat that stings.
Why the New York Giants Football Score in Week 18 Matters
People love to talk about "tanking" for draft picks. If the Giants had lost to Dallas, they might have moved up a spot or two. Instead, they’ll likely settle for the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But coaches and players don't tank. Not when their jobs are on the line.
Winning that game 34-17 did something for the locker room. It proved that the young core—guys like Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter—can compete in the NFC East. Carter, the first-round pick from Penn State, showed flashes of being a cornerstone linebacker. When you look at the new york giants football score history for 2025, you see a lot of "L" marks, but you also see a team that didn't quit on a lame-duck coaching staff.
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Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2026 schedule is already out, and it’s not going to be a walk in the park. The Giants have to face the 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks. They’ll also have their usual home-and-home battles with the Eagles, Cowboys, and Commanders.
Ownership has a lot of work to do. John Mara and Steve Tisch have to decide if Mike Kafka is the guy or if they need to go big-game hunting for a new head coach. The roster needs help on the offensive line—Marcus Mbow and others had a rough go this year, giving up way too many sacks.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're following the team into the offseason, here is how you should track the progress:
- Watch the Head Coach Search: The Giants need stability. Look for names with proven offensive success to help Jaxson Dart's development.
- Monitor the Draft Big Board: With the 5th pick, the Giants are in "Best Player Available" territory. They need an elite playmaker at wide receiver or a shutdown corner.
- Check Free Agency: They have some cap space. Watch if they go after veteran offensive line help to protect their young QB.
- Jaxson Dart’s Progression: Offseason workout reports will be everywhere. Pay attention to his footwork and chemistry with the returning receivers.
The season ended on a high note, even if the record was low. That 34-17 win over Dallas gave fans something to talk about at the water cooler other than draft position. It was a reminder that on any given Sunday, even a 4-13 team can dominate a rival. The 2025 chapter is closed, but the way it ended suggests the 2026 story might actually be worth reading.