If you’re asking who did the cowboys play last week, you’re probably looking for a score that makes sense. Maybe you're hoping for a late-season surge or a playoff seeding update. Honestly? The answer is a lot more depressing than most fans in North Texas were expecting.
The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their 2025-2026 regular season by traveling to East Rutherford to face the New York Giants on Sunday, January 4, 2026. It wasn't exactly a clash of titans. It was more like a car alarm that wouldn’t stop going off. Dallas didn't just lose; they got handled by a three-win Giants team in a 34-17 blowout that left the fan base wondering where it all went wrong.
A Season Finale to Forget at MetLife
When the schedule makers put Dallas and New York together for Week 18, they probably envisioned a high-stakes battle for the NFC East crown. Instead, we got a "meaningless" game that actually meant a whole lot for the vibes heading into a long offseason.
The game started with some semblance of hope. Jaydon Blue, who has been a bright spot in a murky backfield, punched in a 14-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. For a second, it looked like Dallas might coast. But the Giants, led by Jaxson Dart, decided to actually show up for their home finale.
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The Breakdown of the 34-17 Loss
You’ve got to look at the numbers to really feel the pain. Dallas finished the season with a bizarre 7-9-1 record. Yes, that tie from earlier in the season against the Packers still looms large on the stat sheet like a typo nobody bothered to fix.
- Quarterback Carousel: Dak Prescott started but didn't finish. He went 7-for-11 for 70 yards before giving way to Joe Milton III. Milton didn't fare much better, throwing a costly interception and struggling to find a rhythm against a Giants pass rush that looked like the '85 Bears for one afternoon.
- The Sack Attack: Jadeveon Clowney, playing for Dallas, was basically the only reason to keep the TV on. He recorded 3 sacks and a forced fumble. If the rest of the defense had half his energy, we wouldn't be talking about a 17-point loss.
- Jaxson Dart's Career Day: The Giants' young signal-caller carved up the secondary, throwing touchdowns to Daniel Bellinger and Tyrone Tracy Jr. By the time Devin Singletary walked into the end zone for a 6-yard score in the fourth quarter, the stadium was mostly empty except for some very happy (and very surprised) Giants fans.
Why the Giants Matchup Mattered
It’s easy to say "who cares, they weren't making the playoffs anyway," but that’s not how the NFL works. This game was supposed to be a "get right" game.
The Cowboys had a chance to finish with a respectable .500-ish record and carry some momentum into the 2026 draft cycle. Instead, they got out-gained and out-coached by Mike Kafka’s squad. It was a sentimental day for the Giants too, as owner John Mara was gifted the game ball following his recent health battles. It’s hard to be mad at that, but as a Cowboys fan, losing to a 4-13 team is a tough pill to swallow.
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Who Did the Cowboys Play Last Week and What's Next?
Now that the regular season is officially dead and buried, the conversation shifts from who did the cowboys play last week to who are they going to draft in April.
The loss to the Giants actually "helped" their draft position, though nobody in that locker room is celebrating a top-10 pick right now. The roster has massive holes. The offensive line, once the gold standard of the league, looked porous. The run game was inconsistent. And the looming questions about the coaching staff are going to dominate the headlines for the next six months.
2026 Opponents Already Locked In
Because the season is over, we already know who Dallas faces next year. It's not getting any easier. They’ll have the usual home-and-home with the Eagles, Commanders, and Giants. But they also have to travel to places like Green Bay, Houston, and Seattle.
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If you're looking for silver linings, at least the 2025 season can't hurt you anymore. The focus is now entirely on the scouting combine and free agency.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Draft Order: With the 7-9-1 finish, Dallas is picking high. Keep an eye on the mock drafts starting to pop up now that the compensatory picks are being calculated.
- Coaching Watch: Monitor the news coming out of Frisco. After a season-ending blowout to a bottom-tier rival, seat temperatures are reaching a boiling point.
- Cap Space Analysis: The Cowboys have some tough decisions to make with the salary cap. Look at the contracts for the aging veterans to see who might be a "cap casualty" before March.
The 2025 campaign ended with a whimper in the New Jersey cold. While the Giants celebrated a rare win, the Cowboys headed back to Texas with more questions than answers. It was a fitting, if frustrating, end to a season that never quite found its footing.