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Dallas Cowboys 40 – New York Giants 37 (OT)

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DALLAS COWBOYS 40 – NEW YORK GIANTS 37 (OT)…
It was an exciting game and the New York Giants had their chances, but in the end, they lost again to the Dallas Cowboys 40-37 in overtime at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Giants are now 0-2 overall and 0-2 against NFC East opponents. The Cowboys have beaten the Giants nine games in a row and 16 out of the last 17 games.

The Cowboys ran more offensive plays (83 to 65) and out-rushed the Giants (135 to 84), but the Giants had more total net yards (506 to 478) and net yards passing (422 to 343). Each team threw an interception. A big difference in the game was the Giants were 1-of-5 in the red zone (20 percent) while the Cowboys were 3-of-3 (100 percent). Unbelievably, the Giants were also penalized 14 times for 160 yards, with seven others declined or offset.

The Giants had a chance to go up by a big margin in the first quarter, but mistakes killed them. Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski had a 67-yard kick return to start the game wiped out due to a holding penalty on linebacker Swayze Bozeman. Nevertheless, the Giants began the game with a 16-play drive that gained 60 yards. Unfortunately, this possession was also hampered by five offensive penalties, four of which unbelievably were on left tackle James Hudson. He was benched and New York settled for a 38-yard field goal when they should have had the ball 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

The Cowboys went three-and-out after an excellent pass break-up by cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. The Giants then gained 55 yards on eight plays, reaching the Dallas 14-yard line, but once again were forced to settle for a short field goal, this one from 33 yards out. Giants 6 – Cowboys 0.

Dallas went three-and-out again on their second possession with quarterback Dak Prescott being sacked by outside linebacker Brian Burns on 3rd-and-7. After a three-and-out by the Giants, the Cowboys finally moved the ball, gaining 42 yards on eight plays to set up a 51-yard field goal by place kicker Brandon Aubrey.

The Giants extended their lead to 13-3 on their fourth possession. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw a 25 yard deep pass to wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and immediately followed that up with a 29-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Malik Nabers. But back came the Cowboys with their own 8-play, 64-yard touchdown drive, which culminated with a 10-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-9. Giants 13 – Cowboys 10.

Wilson was sacked on the ensuing drive and the Giants went three-and-out with less than two minutes to play before halftime. The Cowboys did cross midfield, but time expired on a Dallas false start penalty.

At the break, the Giants led 13-10.

Dallas received the ball to start the second half, and promptly turned the ball over when cornerback Andru Phillips intercepted a pass by Prescott over the middle. This set the Giants up at the Dallas 40-yard line. They reached the 10, but turned the ball over on downs on 4th-and-3. This was yet another blown red-zone opportunity that would come back to haunt the Giants.

Making matters worse was the New York defense collapsed for the rest of the 3rd and 4th quarters. Dallas had five more possessions in regulation and scored on all five of them with drives of 90 (touchdown), 56 (field goal), 85 (touchdown), 71 (touchdown), and 21 (field goal) yards. Running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders scored from 30 and four yards out, respectively. Prescott threw a 6-yard touchdown to wide out George Pickens.

Nevertheless, the Giants were able to stick with the Cowboys because their offense kept pace. After a 52-yard pass to wide receiver Darius Slayton set up the Giants in the red zone again, New York once again settled for a short field goal after facing a 2nd-and-5 from the 10-yard line. The good news is the next three possessions did result in touchdowns, including a 1-yard score by running back Cam Skattebo, a 32-yard touchdown throw from Wilson to Robinson with just under three minutes to play, and a 48-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Nabers with 25 seconds left in the game.

The final minutes were wild. Dallas went up 27-23, then New York 30-27 with three minutes to play, then Dallas 34-30 with less than a minute to play, then New York 37-34 with 25 seconds left. But Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen called for soft coverage, allowing an easy 18-yard completion with nine seconds left. Two plays later, Aubrey kicked a 64-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.

New York won the toss and elected to kick off. The Giants allowed two first downs, but the Cowboys were forced to punt. The Giants then picked up one first down before Wilson fumbled the fall out of bounds on a play that lost 14 yards. The Giants were forced to punt. Dallas was stopped again after a sack and penalty.

With just over two minutes to go in overtime, Wilson made his biggest mistake of the game, throwing a terrible deep ball that was easily intercepted. The Cowboys then easily gained 42 yards in three plays to set up the 46-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired.

Wilson finished the game 30-of-41 for 450 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. His top targets were Nabers (9 catches for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns) and Robinson (8 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown). Skattebo led the Giants with 45 yards rushing on 11 carries. He also scored.

Defensively, the Giants allowed 478 total yards, 32 first downs, and 40 points. The Giants accrued three sacks, seven quarterback hits, eight tackles for losses, and eight pass defenses. They also forced their first turnover of the season.

GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS are available on YouTube.

PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants activated (standard elevation) DT Elijah Garcia and ILB Swayze Bozeman from the Practice Squad.

Inactive for the game were LT Andrew Thomas (foot), DT Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (foot), ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB), WR Xavier Gipson, OG Evan Neal, and TE Thomas Fidone.

Inside linebackers Darius Muasau (concussion) and Chris Board (chest) left the game with injuries and did not return.

POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Brian Daboll and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Brian Daboll will address the media on Monday.