The question of what is the score for the Dallas Cowboys game has a final, somewhat depressing answer for the 2025-26 season. If you're looking for a live score right now on January 16, 2026, you won't find one. The Cowboys didn't make the playoffs. Their season ended nearly two weeks ago in a chilly East Rutherford, and honestly, the result was a microcosm of their entire year.
In their Week 18 finale on January 4, 2026, the Dallas Cowboys lost to the New York Giants 34-17.
It wasn’t just a loss; it was a flat performance against a Giants team that entered the day with only three wins. For a franchise that always talks about "Super Bowl or bust," finishing 7-9-1 and sitting on the couch while the Wild Card and Divisional rounds happen without them is a tough pill to swallow.
Breaking Down the Final Score: Cowboys vs. Giants
Most people checking the score for the Dallas Cowboys game at the end of the season saw a scoreline that looked competitive early on before the wheels fell off.
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Dallas actually led at one point. In the first quarter, rookie Jaydon Blue punched in a 14-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 10-6 lead. It felt like they might actually finish the Brian Schottenheimer era's first year on a high note. But then the defense, which has been inconsistent all year, gave up a 96-yard touchdown drive to Jaxson Dart and the Giants right before halftime.
The Quarter-by-Quarter Collapse
- First Quarter: Cowboys 10, Giants 6.
- Second Quarter: Giants add 10 unanswered. Score: 16-10.
- Third Quarter: A total stalemate for Dallas while the Giants added 8.
- Fourth Quarter: Cowboys score once, but the Giants put it away with 10 more.
By the time Phil Mafah scored his first career NFL touchdown in the fourth, the game was basically out of reach. The final 34-17 score reflected a team that had mentally checked out for the offseason.
The Dak Prescott Situation in the Finale
A huge reason people keep asking about the score for the Dallas Cowboys game is the confusion surrounding the quarterback position. Dak Prescott started the game because he was chasing a piece of history—he had a chance to become the first Cowboy to lead the league in passing yards.
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He played the first half, went 7-for-11 for 70 yards, and then... he was done.
The coaching staff pulled him at halftime to get a look at Joe Milton III. Milton showed some flashes, particularly with a 33-yard completion to Ryan Flournoy, but an interception to Bobby Okereke in the fourth quarter effectively ended any hope of a comeback. If you’re looking for a silver lining, Jaydon Blue finished with 64 yards and that early touchdown, suggesting the backfield might have some life in 2026.
Why the Scoreboard Didn't Tell the Whole Story
Looking at a final score of 17-34 tells you Dallas got beat, but it doesn't mention the emotional weight this team carried.
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This season was defined by the tragic loss of Marshawn Kneeland in early November. It’s remarkable the team even got to seven wins after that. They actually went on a three-game tear in late November, beating the Eagles and the Chiefs in the same week. That Thanksgiving win over Kansas City (31-28) was easily the peak of the season.
But the "Cowboys luck" didn't hold. After that November surge, they finished the year 1-4.
What’s Next for the Cowboys?
Since there is no game today, the focus has shifted entirely to the front office. The Cowboys finished second in the NFC East, which sounds okay until you realize they are four games behind the Eagles (11-6).
Actionable Next Steps for Cowboys Fans:
- Monitor the Coaching Staff: There are already rumblings about whether Brian Schottenheimer’s "move the pocket" offense is the long-term solution for Dak.
- Draft Position: With a 7-9-1 record, Dallas is looking at a mid-round pick. Expect them to target defensive line depth or a true WR2 to take pressure off CeeDee Lamb.
- Salary Cap Management: The Quinnen Williams trade mid-season helped the defense, but the bill is coming due.
Basically, the score for the Dallas Cowboys game right now is "0-0," because the only game they're playing is the long game of the 2026 offseason. They have been officially eliminated, and the path back to relevance starts with fixing a defense that allowed 34 points to one of the worst offenses in the league to close the year.