Giants Humiliated by Cowboys 40-0 in Regular-Season Opener

The loss was the Giants' worst season-opening loss since a 35-0 drubbing by the Cowboys in 1995.

Author:
Joe Najarian
Publish date:
Sep 11, 2023 12:20 AM EDT

In this story:

East Rutherford, N.J. - The New York Giants had no answers against the Dallas Cowboys, who humiliated them in their season opener 40-0 Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants racked up only 171 yards of total offense with only 63 net passing yards, allowed seven sacks, and turned the ball over three times in one of the ugliest opening-day losses in franchise history. Quarterback Daniel Jones had one of the worst performances of his career, going 15-for-28 with a meager 104 passing yards, two interceptions, and an abysmal 32.4 passer rating.

The Giants appeared to get off to a great start on the game’s opening drive, gashing Dallas’s defense with almost exclusively running plays. Unfortunately, after driving to the Dallas 8 and facing 3rd-and-2, New York suddenly self-destructed. After a false start penalty, a low snap from John Michael Schmitz forced Jones to take a 14-yard loss.

Graham Gano then attempted a 45-yard field goal, but his kick was blocked by Juanyeh Thomas and recovered by Noah Igbinoghene, who returned it 58 yards for a touchdown, putting the Cowboys ahead 6-0 after kicker Brandon Aubrey missed the extra point.

New York went three-and-out on their next drive, and Dallas stormed down the field on their next possession; a lapse in coverage resulted in a 49-yard completion from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb. Dallas ultimately made it as far as the Giants 2, but New York forced them to settle for Aubrey’s 21-yard field goal.

Unfortunately, the Giants continued to beat themselves on their next possession. Facing 3rd and 19 deep in their own territory, Jones appeared to complete his first pass of the night to Saquon Barkley. However, Barkley lost the ball when being hit by Trevon Diggs, and the ball was intercepted and returned 22 yards for a touchdown by DaRon Bland. Dallas now had a 16-0 lead in the first quarter.

The situation would only continue to get worse in the second quarter. A 37-yard pass interference penalty on Tre Hawkins III allowed Dallas to move 60 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 38-yard field goal from Aubrey to make it 19-0 Cowboys. Stephon Gilmore then intercepted Jones on the first play of the Giants’ next drive, and the Cowboys capitalized with a 5-play, 38-yard drive finished by Tony Pollard’s 2-yard touchdown run, increasing the lead to 26-0.

It appeared the Giants would be able to salvage something from the rubble near the end of the first half, as a 22-yard catch by Darren Waller sparked a drive to the Dallas 14. However, the drive sputtered from there, and Gano shanked a 36-yard field goal attempt wide left, and the score remained 26-0 Cowboys at halftime.

By now, the game was over, but Dallas continued to dominate in the second half. On their opening drive, they marched 75 yards in 10 plays and finished with a 1-yard touchdown run by Pollard. Later in the fourth quarter, they moved 50 yards in eight plays to score on KaVontae Turpin’s 7-yard touchdown run. Meanwhile, their defense continued to pin down the Giants, forcing a fumble and two turnovers on downs.

BLUE NOTES: Left tackle Andrew Thomas will undergo an MRI after tweaking his hamstring. Kicker Graham Gano took a cleat to his calf.