The tension in MetLife Stadium on January 4, 2026, was thick enough to cut with a knife. For most of the season, the New York Giants had been, frankly, hard to watch. But when the Dallas Cowboys rolled into town for the regular-season finale, records went out the window. If you missed it, the ny giants cowboys score ended in a stunning 34-17 victory for Big Blue.
It wasn't just a win. It was a statement.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the Giants didn't just compete with Dallas; they dominated them. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who has been the subject of endless talk radio debates in New York, finally looked like the franchise savior fans have been praying for. He finished the day with a 110.2 passer rating. That’s a career high for the kid. He threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and he did it with a swagger we haven't seen in East Rutherford since the Eli Manning era.
Breaking Down the 34-17 NY Giants Cowboys Score
The game started tentatively, as these divisional matchups often do. At halftime, the Giants held a slim 16-10 lead, largely thanks to a bizarre, "how-did-he-do-that" backhand flip from Dart to tight end Daniel Bellinger. Bellinger caught the ball and somehow weaved through three Cowboys defenders for a 29-yard score. It was the kind of play that makes a defensive coordinator want to retire on the spot.
Dallas, meanwhile, looked lost. Dak Prescott started the game, but his afternoon was cut short at halftime. He was chasing the league passing title, but after managing only 70 yards in two quarters, the Cowboys decided they’d seen enough. Joe Milton took over in the third, but the momentum had already shifted.
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The second half was a Tyrone Tracy Jr. highlight reel. Tracy, a fifth-round pick who has been a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy 4-13 season, put the team on his back. He racked up 159 yards from scrimmage. Honestly, the Cowboys' defense looked like they were running in sand trying to catch him. By the time linebacker Bobby Okereke intercepted a Milton pass with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the outcome was decided.
Recent Matchup History: A Brutal Stretch for Big Blue
Before this 34-17 result, the history between these two was getting ugly for New York. If you look at the ny giants cowboys score trends over the last few years, it’s basically been a one-sided beatdown.
- September 2024: Cowboys won 20-15. A game of field goals that the Giants just couldn't close out.
- November 2024: Cowboys won 27-20. This was the Thanksgiving game where the Giants' offense went cold in the second half.
- September 2025: Cowboys won 40-37. A shootout that broke Giants fans' hearts in the closing minutes.
Before this January 2026 win, Dallas had beaten the Giants in 11 of their last 12 meetings. That is a staggering statistic. It’s why this 34-17 score felt like more than just a single victory; it felt like the breaking of a curse.
The Emotional Stakes: More Than Just a Game
There was something else happening on the sidelines that most national broadcasts didn't fully capture. Giants owner John Mara has been undergoing cancer treatment for the last few months. After the game, the locker room was reportedly incredibly emotional. The team gave Mara the game ball.
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It's easy to look at a 4-13 record and say the season was a failure. And strictly speaking, it was. They fired Brian Daboll in November after a 2-8 start. Mike Kafka took over as interim, and while the results weren't immediate, the team clearly played harder for him. Ending the year with back-to-back wins—especially against a rival like Dallas—gives the front office a tiny bit of breathing room heading into a massive offseason.
Key Stats from the January 4 Finale
- Jaxson Dart: 22/32, 230 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 103 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards (159 total).
- Bobby Okereke: Multiple forced turnovers, including a late-game interception.
- The Giants Defense: Held Dallas to 17 points, their lowest total against New York in years.
Dallas ends their season at 7-9-1. It’s a disappointing finish for a team that usually expects to be deep in the playoff hunt. They looked undisciplined. The defense, led by a frustrated Micah Parsons, gave up 5 yards per carry on the ground. You can't win in the NFL if you can't stop the run, and the Giants exploited that weakness all afternoon.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The Giants are currently sitting with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even with this win, they have massive holes to fill. They need a permanent head coach. They need more weapons for Dart. They need to figure out if their defensive line can consistently pressure elite QBs without having to blitz every single play.
For Dallas, the questions are even louder. Is Mike McCarthy's seat finally too hot? Will they stick with the Prescott/Milton dynamic at QB? The NFC East is a fickle beast, and right now, the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders are looking down at both of these teams from the top of the standings.
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If you're looking for actionable insights on where these teams go next, keep an eye on the coaching search in New York. The Giants have already been linked to several high-profile coordinators. This victory might have actually made the job more attractive. It showed that there is talent on the roster—especially in guys like Dart and Tracy—if someone can just figure out how to use it consistently.
To stay ahead of the next chapter in this rivalry, track the following:
- NFL Draft Order: Watch if the Giants trade up from No. 5 or stick and take a tackle to protect Dart.
- Coaching Carousel: Follow the Giants' interviews; they are expected to move fast.
- Dak Prescott's Contract: There is growing chatter in Dallas about whether a full reset is coming.
The 34-17 ny giants cowboys score was a rare moment of joy in a tough year for New York fans. It didn't save the season, but it might have saved the future.