The Dallas Cowboys entered Week 1 with high expectations, but their season opener against the New York Giants quickly turned into a difficult test. 

According to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted his team was outplayed physically in its 28-20 Week 1 loss to the New York Giants. 

"This is a humbling business," Schottenheimer said. "And we got humbled tonight. That's what I told the guys. We lost mile one of a 17-mile marathon, and we have to be better. We will be better. And the only way to do that is to get back to work." 

The loss came after an offseason filled with optimism around the Cowboys, with expectations surrounding their new-look defense and Super Bowl aspirations. 

Instead, New York controlled several key areas of the game. The Giants finished with 394 total yards, while second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns and added 54 rushing yards on 11 carries, as per Dallascowboys.com.

The Cowboys also struggled to pressure Dart, allowing him to find comfort in the pocket while making plays with both his arm and legs.

Dallas managed only 69 rushing yards on 18 attempts, as the Giants’ defensive line created too much penetration early and made it difficult for Javonte Williams and the Cowboys’ rushing attack to find room. 

Dak Prescott’s interception before halftime added to the Cowboys’ problems, as the Giants turned the turnover into a major momentum swing.

New York scored touchdowns on all three possessions that followed the interception, putting Dallas in a difficult position. 

“He was trying to throw it away, and he didn't get enough on it,” Schottenheimer said. “And that happens, but it was a big momentum swing.” 

With several areas needing improvement, the Cowboys will now turn their attention to the Washington Commanders in their home opener, looking for their first win of the season. 

But the Cowboys’ struggles extended beyond their physical battle with the Giants, with problems on third down and a slow offensive start adding to the loss. 

Third-Down Collapse and Offensive Stall Compound Week 1 Woes

According to Todd Archer of ESPN, the Giants converted 9 of 11 third-down attempts against Dallas, while one of their two failed conversions came on a kneel-down to close out the game.

“Been around a long time so maybe, but right now, this one feels pretty bad just because at the end of the day, we just didn't perform the way we're capable of playing,” Schottenheimer said. “We didn't play defense...” 

The Cowboys’ offense also struggled to find its rhythm early. Dak Prescott had called Dallas’ offense the “Greatest Offense There Is” during training camp, but the unit started slowly against New York and had the ball only twice in the second half. 

The third-down struggles and slow offensive start left Dallas with little room for error, making the Week 1 defeat even harder to overcome. 

Written by

Divyanshi Raj