Youthful Giants find spark to conquer Cowboys

The NFL’s first Sunday slate of the season concluded in a fitting manner, with MetLife Stadium playing host to a divisional matchup, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.

After many touching pre-game tributes, the Giants and Cowboys got down to business quickly, fully aware of how significant it would be to gain the early upper hand in ont of the league’s greatest rivalries. A notable age gap in the teams’ offensive skill position players was the lead storyline of the night, as the Giants, led by sopohmore Jaxson Dart looked to take it up to Dak Prescott’s Cowboys.

Riding the energy of the home crowd, New York started like a house on fire, forcing an opening drive 3-and-out, before going on an 83-yard drive down the field, as Cam Skattebo walked in for a touchdown in his first game since suffering a horrific leg injury in Philadelphia last year.

As the raw emotion of the crowd weakened into the second quarter, the experienced Cowboys got the game back on their terms, as Prescott led an 85-yard drive, of which, 57 came from a couple of defensive pass interference calls, to tie the scores as CeeDee Lamb caught his first touchdown for 2026.

New York didn’t succumb to Dallas’ pressure, however, with the newest Giant in Isaiah Likely producing a marvellous toe-tapping touchdown catch in the back of the end zone, after Jevon Holland picked off Prescott just moments early with under a minute to play in the 1st half.

The momentum carried into the 3rd quarter, as the offense put together 12 consecutive positive plays, with Likely striking for a second time, hooking up with Dart again as the lead expanded to 14 points.

With the game slipping away, Dallas did just what was required to stay in it, storming down the field and getting Javonte Williams on the board for the season. But as they did all night, the Giants had the answers in the big moments, with Dart leading another methodical drive, picking the Cowboys defense apart and eventually finding Devin Singletary for the dagger.

Williams found the end zone once more for Dallas, though was made to look silly as a celebration led to a 15-yard taunting penalty on the point after try, which Brandon Aubrey missed. Nonetheless, it would have only made the scoreboard look prettier, as the Cowboys return home with an 0-1 record on the back of a 28-20 loss.

Most impressive about the win for New York was their composure and ability to look like veterans, despite having a number of players, including their quarterback and lead running back, with only a handful of games of NFL experience under their belt. With good health, who knows what this team might achieve as they continue to grow under new head coach John Harbaugh throughout the year.

Touchdowns
Dallas: Williams 2, Lamb
New York Giants: Likely 2, Skattebo, Singletary

Top Performers
Dallas: Williams, Ezeiruaku, Bullard
New York Giants: Dart, Likely, Skattebo, Holland, Edmunds

Injuries
Dallas: Hooker (forearm), Overshown (hamstring)
New York Giants: N/A

Crowd: TBC at MetLife Stadium