Checking the New York Giants score this morning feels a lot different than it did two months ago. If you just look at the 4-13 record from the 2025 season, it's easy to write them off. It looks like another dumpster fire in East Rutherford. But the final numbers from their Week 18 win over the Dallas Cowboys—a surprisingly dominant 34-17 victory—tell a story that isn't just about a lost year.
It was Jan. 4, 2026, and MetLife Stadium was freezing. Most fans expected the Giants to just roll over and secure a better draft pick. Instead, Jaxson Dart, the rookie they’ve pinned all their hopes on, looked like the guy everyone thought he could be when he was lighting it up at Ole Miss. He went 22-of-32 for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Honestly, it was the first time all season the offense felt like it had a pulse.
The Giants didn't just win; they physically bullied a Cowboys team that still had something to play for. Tyrone Tracy Jr. finally cracked the 100-yard mark on the ground, finishing with 103 rushing yards and another 56 through the air. That’s a massive deal because the Giants hadn't had a 100-yard rusher in a single game all year before that finale.
The Reality Behind the New York Giants Score
Why does the New York Giants score keep ending up on the wrong side of the column? If you dig into the 2025 stats, the "close but no cigar" trope is actually backed by data. Seven of their 13 losses were decided by one possession. They blew double-digit leads in five games. Basically, if a couple of bounces go their way, or if they don't fall apart in the fourth quarter against Detroit in Week 12 (losing 34-27 in OT), we’re talking about a fringe playoff team rather than a bottom-feeder.
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The firing of Brian Daboll back in November, after that 24-20 heartbreaker to the Bears, was the turning point. Mike Kafka took over as interim, and while the wins didn't start piling up immediately, the efficiency did.
The defense, led by Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, actually finished the season with 48 sacks. That’s top-half of the league material. But you can't win games when your offense is averaging only 22.4 points per game, which ranked 17th. It’s that middle-of-the-pack purgatory that kills you. You aren't bad enough to get the #1 pick (though they're close), and you aren't good enough to scare anyone in the NFC East.
What Changed in the Final Weeks?
Look at the jump in the New York Giants score during the last two games.
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- Week 17 at Raiders: 34-10 Win
- Week 18 vs. Cowboys: 34-17 Win
That’s back-to-back 34-point outings. For a team that struggled to find the end zone for most of October and November, this was a revelation. Jaxson Dart stopped looking like a deer in headlights. He started trusting Malik Nabers. Nabers is the real deal, by the way. Even with the revolving door at quarterback earlier in the season between Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, Nabers proved he’s a true No. 1.
The specialized "Veo" highlights (as the team's tech partners call them) show a kid who can high-point the ball against double coverage. Rex Ryan was on ESPN yesterday saying this is "absolutely a playoff team" in 2026. He might be onto something, especially with John Harbaugh officially taking the reins.
The Harbaugh Factor
It's official: John Harbaugh is a New York Giant. He signed a five-year deal on Saturday. This is the biggest news to hit the franchise since they drafted Eli. Harbaugh brings that 180-113 record from Baltimore. He knows how to build a culture, and more importantly, he knows how to fix a broken defense.
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The Giants have the pieces.
- Andrew Thomas is still a premier left tackle.
- Malik Nabers is a superstar.
- Abdul Carter, the rookie linebacker from Penn State, finished the year with a flurry of pressures.
- Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux provide an elite edge rush.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Offseason
So, what do you do with this information? The New York Giants score will be the thing to watch during the 2026 preseason. Harbaugh is going to trim the fat. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are likely gone; they were always bridge players. The keys have been handed to Dart.
The defense needs to get younger in the secondary. Deonte Banks has had flashes of brilliance, but they need another lockdown corner. They also need to figure out the kicker situation. Ben Sauls was 4-for-4 in the finale, but the Giants cycled through kickers like most people change socks this year.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Draft Order: Despite the late wins, the Giants are still picking high. Expect them to target a blue-chip offensive lineman or a shutdown cornerback to pair with Banks.
- Monitor the Harbaugh Staff: Who he brings in as Defensive Coordinator will tell us everything. If he brings someone from the Ravens' tree, expect the Giants to lead the league in blitz percentage next year.
- Don't overvalue the 4-13 record: The point differential and the "blown lead" stats suggest this team is a few veteran signings away from an 8-9 or 9-8 season.
The Giants are in a weird spot, but for the first time in a decade, the path forward doesn't look like a dead end. The score in the Cowboys game wasn't a fluke; it was a blueprint.