The Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be different this year.
Instead, they just got pushed around by the New York Giants.
The Giants beat Dallas 28-20 Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.
John Harbaugh won his Giants debut.
Jaxson Dart won his first game against the Cowboys.
And Dallas’ revamped defense looked remarkably similar to last year’s disaster.
Yeah, about that.
The Giants Beat Them Up
New York controlled this game from the opening whistle.
The Giants outgained Dallas 394-244.
They also dominated time of possession 36:40 to 23:20.
That was not some fluky division rivalry game.
The Giants physically controlled the Cowboys.
New York converted nine of 11 third downs.
Dallas simply could not get off the field.
That is a massive problem.
Especially for a team that spent the offseason rebuilding its defense.
Jaxson Dart Looked Comfortable
Dart did not need to play hero ball.
He simply kept moving the chains.
He completed passes when Dallas brought pressure.
He also used his legs when opportunities opened.
Most importantly, he kept the Giants offense on schedule.
Isaiah Likely became his favorite weapon.
Likely caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cowboys had absolutely no answer for him.
That sentence alone should make Dallas fans nervous.
Meanwhile, Dak Prescott Had a Long Night
Dak Prescott completed 64.7% of his passes.
He finished with 175 passing yards and two touchdowns.
He also threw an interception.
His passer rating finished at 84.8.
The offensive line struggled to protect him.
The running game produced only 3.8 yards per carry.
Javonte Williams managed just 41 rushing yards.
That is not exactly the recipe for a team expecting to contend.
Then Dallas Completely Melts Down
The Cowboys pulled within eight points late.
Williams scored on a 17-yard reception from Prescott.
Then came the most Cowboys sequence imaginable.
Williams was flagged for taunting after scoring.
That pushed Brandon Aubrey’s extra point attempt back.
Aubrey missed it.
Dallas remained down 28-20.
Then the Giants took over and drained the final 5:16.
Game over.
You cannot script this stuff.
Maybe the Giants Are Actually Fun Now
That is the other part nobody expected.
The Giants looked organized.
They looked physical.
They looked prepared.
And Harbaugh got exactly what he wanted from his first game.
New York did not simply beat Dallas.
The Giants made the Cowboys look ordinary.
That could become a very different NFC East conversation.
Meanwhile, Dallas has some serious questions to answer.
The defense was supposed to be fixed.
The offense was supposed to remain explosive.
The Cowboys instead opened the season by getting bullied by their biggest rival.
It is only Week 1.
But Cowboys fans have heard that before.
And somehow, the Giants are the ones leaving Sunday night feeling pretty good about themselves.
