Dallas Cowboys crush Giants in season opener, 40-0, with key plays, highlights and stats
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Dallas Cowboys left no room for doubt in their season opener against the New York Giants, delivering a 40-0 thrashing on Sunday night. The Cowboys’ defense and special teams were the stars of the show, completely shutting down the Giants in a one-sided affair.
A Dallas Cowboys Defensive Masterclass
The Cowboys’ defense was nothing short of dominant, keeping the Giants scoreless throughout the game. This performance sets a high bar for the rest of the season and sends a clear message to the rest of the league: the Cowboys’ defense is not to be taken lightly.
Read more: Watch: Miami Dolphins edge out Los Angeles Chargers in high-scoring affair, 36-34
“It’s the first game,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. “That’s y’all’s job to write whatever statement it needs to be.
“For us, it’s about not getting ahead of ourselves. Continuing to stay disciplined, to show the discipline. Not only what we did through these four quarters, but taking that and making sure we use it throughout our preparation this week.”
Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Shine
Often an overlooked aspect of the game, the Cowboys’ special teams also played a crucial role in the victory. Their contributions further solidified the team’s dominance, making it a comprehensive win in all three phases of the game.
Key Plays and Stats
- Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal 58 yards for a touchdown on the opening series.
- DaRon Bland scored on a pick-6 later in the first quarter.
- Tony Pollard scored on two short touchdown runs.
- The Cowboys forced three turnovers and sacked Daniel Jones seven times.
- The Giants’ shutout loss was the largest between the teams, topping the Cowboys’ 35-0 win in 1995.
- The Cowboys got two field goals from new kicker Brandon Aubrey.
- Pollard, the Cowboys’ lead running back after the release of Ezekiel Elliott during the offseason, had a 1-yard run in the third quarter. KaVontae Turpin added a 7-yard TD run in the fourth.
Additional Individual Player Stats
- Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was 13 of 24 for 143 yards.
- Giants quarterback Daniel Jones finished 15 of 28 for 104 yards with a quarterback rating of 32.4.
Giants Left Searching for Answers
The New York Giants were utterly outclassed in every aspect, raising serious questions about their preparedness for the season.
With a 40-0 loss to start the year, the team will need to go back to the drawing board to find solutions quickly.
