Ouch! The 2025 season ended with a thud for the Dallas Cowboys, a painful 34-17 loss to the New York Giants. Forget about ending on a high note or building momentum for 2026 – this game felt like a microcosm of the entire disappointing season. But here's where it gets controversial... Was this loss simply a blip, or a sign of deeper issues within the team?
Facing a Giants team that had only managed three wins all season, the Cowboys stumbled their way into the offseason. It was a performance riddled with familiar problems, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
The Dallas defense simply couldn't contain Jaxson Dart and the Giants' offense. While Jadeveon Clowney had a monster game with a career-high three sacks, Dart still managed to throw for 230 yards and two touchdowns. What's even more concerning is that he achieved a season-high passer rating of 110.2. And this is the part most people miss... It wasn't just Dart's arm that hurt the Cowboys; the Giants' ground game also had a field day.
The Giants averaged a whopping 5 yards per carry, racking up a total of 161 rushing yards. Tyrone Tracy had a breakout performance, rushing for 103 yards – the first time a Giants player had reached the 100-yard mark all season! He also added 56 receiving yards, giving him a personal-best 158 yards from scrimmage.
On the offensive side, the big question was whether Dak Prescott would even start, given the team's struggles and the meaningless nature of the game. He did, with a chance to become the first Cowboy in history to lead the league in passing yards. But his afternoon was cut short at halftime with only 70 passing yards. He was left to anxiously watch and see if the Rams' Matthew Stafford, who was in second place, would surpass him.
Joe Milton took over at quarterback in the third quarter, seeing his most extensive action since the preseason. While he gained some valuable experience, it wasn't enough to turn the tide for the Cowboys. He finished the game with 73 passing yards. It makes you wonder, was the quarterback change a strategic move, or a sign that the coaching staff has already begun looking towards the future?
However, there was a glimmer of hope in the backfield with the emergence of the rookie running backs, Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, who was making his NFL debut. Blue rushed for 64 yards and Mafah added 18, and both scored their first career touchdowns. This is quite an achievement, and something to build on going forward!
In fact, they became only the fifth rookie duo in Cowboys history to score rushing touchdowns in the same game. The last pair to accomplish this feat were Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, who did it four times during the 2016 season. A promising sign, perhaps?
Despite their efforts, the Cowboys were ultimately outgained by the Giants, 380 yards to 286. Dallas also struggled on third down, converting only 25 percent of their attempts, while the Giants were successful 57 percent of the time. To add insult to injury, the Cowboys were penalized more and lost the turnover battle.
First Quarter:
The first quarter was a slow burn, with both teams trading field goals. Prescott fumbled a snap on the Cowboys' first possession, giving the Giants possession inside the Dallas 30. The defense held strong, only allowing a field goal. Brandon Aubrey responded with a field goal of his own, followed by another Giants field goal.
But then… fireworks! KaVontae Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the New York 11-yard line, setting a franchise record for both kickoff returns (63) and kickoff return yards (1,683) in a season. Two plays later, Blue burst into the end zone, giving the Cowboys a 10-6 lead.
Second Quarter:
The Giants responded with another field goal after a long drive stalled in the red zone. Clowney made a big play, stopping Devin Singletary for a loss on second down. The Cowboys then drove down to the Giants' 3-yard line, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer decided to go for it on fourth-and-2. Prescott's pass was broken up, and the Cowboys came away empty.
Even worse, with 2:49 left in the half, the Giants managed to score a touchdown. They were aided by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Kenneth Murray. Given new life, Dart connected with Daniel Bellinger for a touchdown, capping off a 96-yard drive – the Giants' longest of the season – and giving them a 16-10 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter:
With Prescott sidelined, the Cowboys' offense struggled. The defense continued to struggle as well, allowing the Giants to score on their fifth straight possession. Another unnecessary roughness penalty, this time on Quinnen Williams, helped the Giants' cause. Dart then connected with Tracy for a 13-yard touchdown.
A scrum broke out after the touchdown, resulting in Donovan Ezeiruaku being ejected for ripping off a Giants player's helmet. The Giants then successfully converted a two-point conversion on a trick play, extending their lead to 24-10.
Milton found some rhythm on his next drive, leading the Cowboys into enemy territory. However, Aubrey missed a 57-yard field goal. Clowney then recovered a fumble, giving the Cowboys another chance. Milton scrambled for a first down on fourth, then ran to the New York 3-yard line on the last play of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
Mafah scored a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, narrowing the deficit to seven points. The Dallas defense desperately needed a stop, but they couldn't get it. A pass interference penalty on Caelen Carson gave the Giants a huge gain. The Giants then added another field goal.
Okereke intercepted a Milton pass on the Cowboys' next possession, effectively ending the game. The Giants added a final touchdown, thanks to a 6-yard run by Singletary, to seal the victory, 34-17.
The Cowboys' final play of the 2025 season was a fittingly chaotic miscommunication between Milton and his running back. This one play epitomized the season as a whole.
And so, one of the toughest seasons in Cowboys history came to a close, with a final record of 7-9-1. This marked the first time they had posted back-to-back losing records since 2000-2002.
So, what do you think? Was this season a fluke, or are there deeper problems that need to be addressed? Can the Cowboys bounce back in 2026, or are they destined for more disappointment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
