The Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants Week 1 matchup on September 13, 2026, delivered an important NFC East showdown on Sunday Night Football. The Giants opened their season with a 28-20 victory over the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, giving New York a winning start under head coach John Harbaugh. Dallas battled throughout the game, but the Giants controlled the ball effectively and finished with a significant advantage in total offense.
The game featured several standout individual performances, particularly from Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, tight end Isaiah Likely, and running back Cam Skattebo. For Dallas, Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, and CeeDee Lamb provided the main offensive highlights. The Giants finished with 394 total yards compared with 244 for Dallas and held the ball for 36:40, helping them protect their lead through the final quarter.
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| New York Giants | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Jaxson Dart Leads Giants Offense
Jaxson Dart was one of the biggest stories of the Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants game. The Giants quarterback completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, producing a 134.2 passer rating. He also carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards, giving New York another dimension on the ground.
Dart was especially effective on third down and helped keep drives alive throughout the night. The Giants converted 9 of 10 third-down opportunities before the final victory-formation kneel-down, allowing New York to control possession and limit Dallas’ opportunities. His combination of accurate passing and mobility was central to the Giants’ offensive performance.
Jaxson Dart Week 1 Stats
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Passing | 23/29 |
| Passing Yards | 230 |
| Passing TDs | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 134.2 |
| Rushing Attempts | 11 |
| Rushing Yards | 54 |
Isaiah Likely Dominates Receiving Stats
Isaiah Likely quickly became one of the most important pieces of the Giants’ passing attack. The tight end caught 8 passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, leading all players in receiving yards in the game.
Likely’s first touchdown came late in the second quarter on a 15-yard reception from Dart. The Giants then opened the second half with another touchdown connection, this time on a two-yard pass. Those two scores helped New York extend its advantage from 14-7 to 21-7.
His performance was particularly significant because Dallas struggled to account for him in the red zone. The Cowboys repeatedly allowed New York receivers to find open space, and Likely capitalized with two touchdowns.
Cam Skattebo Provides Ground Game
Cam Skattebo also played a major role in the Giants’ victory. He finished with 18 carries for 81 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. His three-yard touchdown run opened the scoring in the first quarter.
Skattebo’s running helped New York establish a physical offensive identity. The Giants finished with 165 rushing yards on 37 attempts, compared with 69 rushing yards on 18 attempts for Dallas. That difference contributed to New York’s ability to maintain possession and close the game in the fourth quarter.
Malik Nabers Returns With Strong Performance
Malik Nabers also made his presence felt in his return to the Giants lineup. The wide receiver recorded 6 receptions for 69 yards on nine targets. While he did not score a touchdown, his catches consistently provided Dart with a reliable option downfield.
Nabers’ involvement was notable because his availability had been a major storyline heading into the opener. He immediately contributed on the opening drive and remained an important part of the passing attack throughout the contest.
Dak Prescott Player Stats
Dak Prescott led the Cowboys’ passing attack but faced consistent pressure as Dallas struggled to generate sustained offensive production. Prescott completed 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, finishing with an 84.8 passer rating.
Prescott’s first touchdown pass went to CeeDee Lamb for a one-yard score in the second quarter. His second touchdown came in the fourth quarter when he found Javonte Williams for a 17-yard touchdown that brought Dallas within one score.
Dak Prescott Week 1 Stats
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Passing | 22/34 |
| Passing Yards | 175 |
| Passing TDs | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 84.8 |
| Rushing Attempts | 2 |
| Rushing Yards | 14 |
Prescott’s interception came late in the second quarter when he was under pressure and attempted to throw the ball away. Giants safety Jevón Holland intercepted the pass, and New York turned the opportunity into Likely’s first touchdown of the evening.
Javonte Williams Records Two Touchdowns
Javonte Williams was Dallas’ most productive skill-position player by total yardage and touchdowns. He rushed 12 times for 41 yards and one touchdown, while also catching five passes for 31 yards and another touchdown. His combined total was 72 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams scored his rushing touchdown from one yard out in the third quarter. His receiving touchdown came with 5:21 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard pass from Prescott. That score gave Dallas an opportunity to make the game a one-score contest, but the missed extra point left the Cowboys eight points behind.
CeeDee Lamb Makes Early Impact
CeeDee Lamb finished the game with five receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown came on a one-yard reception from Prescott in the second quarter, tying the game at 7-7 at the time.
Lamb also recorded catches of 13 and 15 yards during Dallas’ third-quarter touchdown drive, helping Prescott move the Cowboys 75 yards in 12 plays before Williams scored on the ground.
FOX Sports also noted that Lamb moved past Dez Bryant into fifth place on the Cowboys’ all-time receiving-yards list during the game.
Dallas Cowboys vs Giants Team Stats
| Team Stat | Cowboys | Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 244 | 394 |
| Passing Yards | 175 | 229 |
| Rushing Yards | 69 | 165 |
| Total Plays | 52 | 68 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.7 | 5.8 |
| Time of Possession | 23:20 | 36:40 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 9 | 10 |
| Penalty Yards | 90 | 114 |
The biggest statistical difference was New York’s ability to sustain drives. The Giants ran 68 offensive plays compared with 52 for Dallas and held a more than 13-minute advantage in time of possession. Their 165 rushing yards also helped keep the Cowboys’ defense on the field.
Dallas’ offense, meanwhile, averaged only 4.7 yards per play. Although the Cowboys scored on both of their second-half possessions, they had too few opportunities because New York consistently controlled the clock.
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants Game Highlights
The Giants opened the scoring with a 10-play, 83-yard drive that ended with Skattebo’s three-yard touchdown run. Dallas responded in the second quarter after receiving the benefit of several New York penalties, with Prescott connecting with Lamb for the tying touchdown.
New York regained the lead before halftime when Dart found Likely for a 15-yard touchdown. The Giants then extended the margin to 21-7 in the third quarter with another Dart-to-Likely touchdown before Dallas answered with Williams’ one-yard rushing score.
The fourth quarter produced another Giants touchdown when Dart connected with Singletary for nine yards. Dallas answered with the Williams receiving touchdown, but the missed extra point left the Cowboys needing two scores. New York’s final possession lasted the final 5:16 of the game, ending Dallas’ comeback attempt.
Giants Defense Controls the Final Minutes
While New York’s offense generated the majority of the headlines, the Giants defense played an important role in protecting the lead. Dallas managed only 69 rushing yards, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Prescott was also intercepted once, and the Cowboys could not create another possession after Williams’ fourth-quarter touchdown.
The Giants defense also benefited from its offense’s ability to maintain possession. By keeping Dallas’ defense on the field for extended periods and limiting the Cowboys’ rushing production, New York entered the final minutes with control of the game.
Final Takeaway
The Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants Match Player Stats from Week 1 show a game in which New York controlled the line of scrimmage, possession and offensive efficiency. The Giants finished with 394 total yards to Dallas’ 244 and scored 28 points despite committing one turnover.
Jaxson Dart’s 230 passing yards and three touchdown passes, combined with Isaiah Likely’s 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns, gave New York the offensive production it needed. Cam Skattebo added 81 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Malik Nabers provided another reliable receiving option.
For Dallas, Dak Prescott finished with two touchdown passes but also threw one interception, while Javonte Williams accounted for two touchdowns and 72 total yards. CeeDee Lamb added a touchdown and 44 receiving yards. The Cowboys showed some late offensive fight, scoring twice in the second half, but New York’s ability to control the clock prevented a final comeback.
Overall, the Week 1 matchup ended with the New York Giants 28, Dallas Cowboys 20, giving the Giants a 1-0 start and leaving Dallas 0-1 heading into Week 2
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