Game Insights & Statistics: Recap of Giants vs Cowboys

In Arlington, Texas – Insights and Statistical Highlights: Giants vs. Cowboys Clash at AT&T Stadium

Recap of Giants vs Cowboys

In the absence of Daniel Jones (knee) and Tyrod Taylor (rib cage), the Giants turned to rookie free agent Tommy DeVito as their starting quarterback. DeVito became the first rookie free agent quarterback to start a non-strike game for the Giants since the inception of the common draft in 1967. He marked the 10th rookie quarterback to start an NFL game since 2010 and the 10th rookie quarterback to start this season, the highest such total in the league since at least 1950.

Despite facing constant pressure from Dallas’ defensive front, DeVito managed to complete 14 of 27 passes for 86 yards, including two touchdowns and one interception, resulting in a passer rating of 67.8. His touchdown passes included a 10-yard connection with Lawrence Cager in the third quarter and a two-yard toss to Sterling Shepard with just six seconds remaining in the game. His longest completion was a 26-yarder to tight end Daniel Bellinger.

DeVito also showcased his rushing abilities, accumulating 41 yards on seven carries, with his longest run covering 19 yards. Unfortunately, he was sacked five times for a total loss of 25 yards.

Sterling Shepard scored his first touchdown since the 2022 season opener in Tennessee when he found the end zone with a 65-yard reception. He had missed most of the season due to a torn ACL.

Lawrence Cager scored his second career touchdown and his first in a year, with his last touchdown coming on a nine-yard catch in the Giants’ victory against Houston on Nov. 13, 2022.

Leading the receiving charts for the Giants were Darius Slayton (21 yards) and running back Jashaun Corbin (12 yards), with each of them making three receptions. Corbin also contributed a one-yard run. Notably, these 13 scrimmage yards were the first in Corbin’s career.

Saquon Barkley emerged as the Giants’ top rusher, gaining 66 yards on 13 carries, which included a team-long 21-yard run.

The Cowboys dominated the game statistically, enjoying significant advantages in total yards (640-172), first downs (32-16), net passing yards (472-61), and time of possession (37:21-22:39).

The 49 points scored by Dallas were the most allowed by the Giants since their 51-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 5, 2017. This total was the highest given up during Brian Daboll’s two seasons as head coach, surpassing the 48 points conceded to Philadelphia on Dec. 11.

Dallas’ 640 total yards represented the second-highest total allowed by the Giants, with the previous record dating back almost 80 years to Nov. 14, 1943, when the Chicago Bears gained 682 yards in a 56-7 victory. The highest total under Daboll’s tenure had been 524 yards at Miami on Oct. 8.

The Cowboys’ 472 net passing yards stood as the third-highest total conceded by the Giants, trailing behind New Orleans’ 505 passing yards on Nov. 1, 2015, and the Bears’ 488 yards in the 1943 matchup mentioned earlier.

The Cowboys’ 32 first downs equaled the third-highest total by an opponent facing the Giants. The record was set by the Rams with 38 on Nov. 13, 1966, while New Orleans had 35 in 2015, and Dallas previously had 21 on Sept. 10, 1978.

At halftime, the Giants were trailing 28-0, marking their largest deficit after two quarters since the NFC Divisional Playoff Game last January, when they were behind by the same score against the Eagles. This halftime deficit was the largest in a regular-season game for the Giants since Jan. 3, 2010, when they trailed 31-0 in Minnesota.

The Giants managed just one first down in the first half, recording their lowest total in a half since Nov. 23, 2017, when they had just one in the second half during a loss in Washington.

The Giants’ 27 first-half yards represented their fewest since they gained 18 yards in the first two quarters on Sept. 22, 2013, against Carolina.

With 172 total yards, the Giants recorded their third-lowest total of the season and under Daboll’s leadership. This figure included 171 yards in their first meeting with the Cowboys on Sept. 10 and 150 yards in San Francisco on Sept. 21.

The Giants struggled on third-down conversions, going 0-for-12, marking their first game without a third-down success since Jan. 3, 2021. This was also their only victory since the 1970 merger when they failed to convert a third-down opportunity.

In a season series sweep by Dallas, the Giants were defeated for the third consecutive season. The Cowboys’ 89 points were the highest they scored in a single season against the Giants, surpassing the previous record of 76 points in 2007, the year the Giants won Super Bowl XLII.

The Giants have now lost six in a row and 13 of their last 14 games against Dallas, with a losing streak of seven games in AT&T Stadium.

This loss marked the Giants’ third consecutive defeat, leaving them with a 2-8 record. The Giants have now lost seven straight games against teams with a winning record entering the matchup, including all five games this season.

The Giants’ defense failed to record a sack for the second game in a row, making it the fifth time in 10 games.

Second-year cornerback Cor’Dale Flott secured his first interception when he intercepted a Dak Prescott pass intended for tight end Jake Ferguson on the final play of the first quarter. Flott returned the ball for 21 yards to the Dallas 12-yard line. Despite advancing to the four-yard line, the Giants couldn’t convert, and Barkley was stopped for no gain by DeMarcus Lawrence and former Giant Johnathan Hankins.

Darnay Holmes intercepted a pass by backup quarterback Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter, marking the third interception of his career and the first since Nov. 28, 2021, against Philadelphia.

Linebacker Bobby Okereke led the Giants with 11 tackles, seven of which were solo, and safety Xavier McKinney added 10 tackles, eight of which were solo.

Cager’s touchdown capped a 91-yard drive on the Giants’ second possession of the third quarter. This marked their longest scoring possession in terms of yardage since they had a 97-yard drive at Washington on Dec. 18, 2022. Their previous longest this year had been an 88-yard drive against Washington on Oct. 22.

Dallas took a 14-0 lead with Jake Ferguson’s one-yard touchdown reception with 8:48 remaining in the second quarter. This capped an eight-play, 96-yard drive, which stood as the longest by a Giants opponent since a 98-yarder on Oct. 10, 2021, also by the Cowboys in AT&T Stadium. The previous longest possession in terms of yardage against the Giants this season had been 94 yards by the Dolphins in Miami on Oct. 8.

Prescott completed 26 of 35 passes for 404 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, resulting in a passer rating of 138.3. Prescott became the first quarterback to throw for 400 yards against the Giants since… Prescott, who had thrown for 405 yards on Sept. 8, 2019.

Prescott has now won each of his last 12 starts against the Giants.

Prescott became the first quarterback to throw four touchdown passes against the Giants since the Rams’ Matthew Stafford on Oct. 17, 2021, when Los Angeles scored 51 points.

Prescott primarily targeted his two favorite receivers throughout the game. CeeDee Lamb caught 11 passes for 151 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown, and he also scored the game’s first touchdown on a 14-yard end-around on Dallas’ first series. Meanwhile, Bandin Cooks secured nine receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown. This marked the first game in Giants history in which two opposing receivers each had at least 150 receiving yards.

Lamb and Cook became the fifth and sixth receivers to gain at least 100 yards against the Giants this season. Under Daboll, the Giants’ regular-season record is 2-7-1 and 1-0 in the postseason when an opposing receiver records at least 100 yards.

Lamb became the first Giants opponent to score rushing and receiving touchdowns in the same game since San Francisco’s Matt Breida achieved this feat on Nov. 12, 2018, with a three-yard run and an 11-yard catch in a 27-23 Giants win. Breida is currently in his second season with the Giants.

Shepard’s late touchdown reception enabled the Giants to score more than 16 points for the first time since their 31-28 victory in Arizona on Sept. 17.

In his second game since taking over for Graham Gano as the Giants’ kicker, Randy Bullock scored his first points, with a pair of extra points and a 40-yard field goal in the second half.

Dallas entered the game with an NFL-high of 67 first-quarter points, while the Giants had a league-low of nine points. The Cowboys managed to score the only seven points in the quarter.

Tyre Phillips substituted for the injured Evan Neal (ankle) at right tackle, marking the sixth consecutive game with a different offensive line configuration than the previous contest and the ninth different starting combination in 10 games. Phillips started his third game since rejoining the Giants on Oct. 17. The other starters included left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Justin Pugh, right guard Ben Bredeson, and center John Michael Schmitz.

Thomas left the game with a left knee injury with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter after an awkward twist to his lower left leg on a short run by Barkley. Thomas initially walked to the sideline, but after an examination in the medical tent, he was carted off the field to the locker room. He later returned to the game with a knee brace.

While Thomas was being examined, Pugh moved from left guard to tackle, and Marcus McKethan stepped in as the guard.

Reserve tight end Tyree Jackson made his Giants debut by starting in a two-tight end set but was not targeted on any passes.

With Adoree’ Jackson sidelined due to a concussion, the Giants’ starting cornerbacks were Deonte Banks, Nick McCloud, and Cor’Dale Flott. It was McCloud’s first start of the season, and he had previously started eight games in 2022, including each of the last seven, after Adoree’ Jackson’s knee injury on Nov. 20. McCloud contributed three solo tackles.

Kayvon Thibodeaux (concussion), Banks (ankle), and Flott (shoulder) did not play in the second half due to injuries.

The Giants’ inactive players included cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (concussion), running back Deon Jackson (concussion), tackle Evan Neal (ankle), guard Mark Glowinski, nose tackle Jordon Riley, safety Gervarrius Owens, and kicker Cade York.