The rivalry between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys isn’t just about football. It's about geography, ego, and decades of built-up frustration. People always want to know who won giants or cowboys because, in the NFC East, a single game usually dictates the narrative for the next six months.
Last night was no different.
The Dallas Cowboys walked away with the victory, securing a 20-15 win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium. If you're a Giants fan, it’s the same old story. If you're a Cowboys fan, it’s a sigh of relief. Dallas has now won seven straight against New York. It’s a streak that feels less like a rivalry and more like a lease agreement at this point.
What Actually Happened on the Field
Dak Prescott looked comfortable. He didn't have to be a superhero, but he was efficient. He finished 22-of-27 for 221 yards and two touchdowns. One of those was a screen pass to Rico Dowdle that went for 15 yards, and the other was a 55-yard bomb to CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb is just better than everyone else on the field most of the time.
He finished with seven catches for 98 yards. The Giants tried to bracket him, they tried to jam him at the line, but it didn't really matter. Once he gets into the open field, he’s gone. The Giants' secondary is young, and it showed. Deonte Banks is talented, sure, but Lamb is a polished vet who knows exactly how to manipulate a cornerback's hips.
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New York didn't score a single touchdown.
Think about that for a second. In a professional football game in 2024, the Giants leaned entirely on Greg Joseph’s leg. He went 5-for-5 on field goals. Honestly, that’s impressive in its own right, but you can't beat the Cowboys by kicking three-pointers while they’re finding the end zone.
Daniel Jones and the "Almost" Moments
If you watch the tape, Daniel Jones wasn't actually terrible. He was... fine. He went 29-of-47 for 281 yards. But there were no touchdowns. He threw an interception late in the game that basically sealed the deal.
It’s the same critique we've heard for years.
Jones can move the ball between the 20s. He can find Malik Nabers—who is a genuine superstar, by the way—but once the field shrinks in the red zone, the Giants' offense turns into a pumpkin. Nabers had 12 catches for 115 yards before leaving the game with a concussion. That hit was scary. He went up for a ball on the sideline, came down hard, and didn't move for a minute.
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Losing Nabers is a catastrophic blow for the Giants' season if he’s out for an extended period. He is literally their entire offense right now.
Why the Cowboys Defensive Front Won the Day
Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence didn't have massive stat lines, and both actually left the game with injuries, which is a massive concern for Dallas moving forward. However, their presence alone changed how Brian Daboll had to call the game.
The Giants couldn't run the ball.
Devin Singletary had 14 carries for 24 yards. That is a disgusting stat. You cannot win in the NFL if you are averaging 1.7 yards per carry. It makes the offense one-dimensional. It allows the Cowboys' pass rushers to just tee off on Jones because they know he isn't handing it off.
Dallas’s run defense had been shredded in previous weeks by the Saints and the Ravens. Everyone thought the Giants would follow that blueprint. They tried. They failed. Mazi Smith actually played decent ball in the middle for Dallas, which is a sentence most Cowboys fans didn't think they'd say this year.
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The Referees and the "Ugly" Factor
This wasn't a "beautiful" game of football.
There were penalties everywhere. Facemasks, holding, illegal shifts. It felt like the refs wanted to be the stars of the show. At one point, there were more penalty yards than actual rushing yards for the Giants. It kills the flow. Fans hate it. Players hate it.
Even the Cowboys' winning drive felt a bit stuttery. Brandon Aubrey—who might be the best kicker in the world right now—hit a 60-yarder like it was a chip shot. Then he missed a 51-yarder later. He’s human, apparently.
Looking Forward: What This Means for Both Teams
Dallas is now 2-2. They aren't "back" to being Super Bowl contenders yet, but they aren't falling apart either. They have a brutal schedule coming up. Losing Parsons (high ankle sprain) and Lawrence (foot injury) for any amount of time is going to test Mike McCarthy’s job security.
The Giants are 1-3.
The seat under Brian Daboll is getting warm, even if the front office says otherwise. You can't lose seven straight games to your biggest rival and expect the fan base to stay patient. The lack of a run game is a schematic failure as much as it is a talent failure.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the injury reports for Malik Nabers and Micah Parsons specifically. These are the "engine" players for both franchises. If Nabers is in concussion protocol, the Giants' offense against Seattle next week will be unwatchable.
- Review the "Red Zone" efficiency stats. The Giants are currently one of the worst teams in the league at converting trips inside the 20 into six points. If you're betting on their games, look at the "under" or player props for their kicker.
- Analyze the Cowboys' defensive line depth. With Lawrence and Parsons banged up, guys like Marshawn Kneeland are going to see massive snap counts. This is where seasons are won or lost.
- Don't overreact to the final score. While the Cowboys won, their inability to put the Giants away earlier shows they still have major issues with consistency and discipline.
The Cowboys won the game, but the victory feels a bit hollow given the injuries. The Giants lost, and it feels like a continuation of a decade-long identity crisis.