'This Belongs to the Defense!' Dak Prescott Reacts to Cowboys Domination at Giants: Live Game Log
It was finally time. When Sunday rolled around it was 231 days since the Dallas Cowboys last took the field in a meaningful game. Cowboys fans will remember that day for the 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of last season's playoffs.
That's all behind them, and with this 40-0 victory - a record-setting one - it does seem like so much might be ahead of them, in a good way.
Dallas QB Dak Prescott was right in saying, “This (gameball from NBC) belongs to the defense.” ... and here's how it all unfolded chronologically ...
Dallas opens the new season on the road against the division rival New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Quarterback Dak Prescott - who plays well against the G-Men - didn't see action in the preseason and hopes to kick off the new campaign with a division win.
Prescott is 10-2 against the Giants since entering the league, and Dallas has averaged 28.4 points per contest behind Prescott since 2021, the most of any team in that time. Dallas overall has won 11 of the last 12 games vs. New York and hopes to make it five in a row on Sunday. ... and an uptick in good health will help, as two key Prescott protectors - Tyron Smith (ankle) and Tyler Smith (hamstring) are ending the week by participating in the team’s “mock game” walkthrough while dealing with nagging injury issues.
Tyler, along with Donovan Wilson, is now listed as “doubtful” for the game.
After a change at offensive coordinator, head coach Mike McCarthy will be calling plays for the Cowboys for what many believe could be an offense near the top of the league in many categories.
New wideout Brandin Cooks looks to make history in his first season with a Star on his helmet. He could become the first player in the history of the NFL to total 1,000 receiving yards with five different teams. And the Cowboys' offense - with CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard featured - has the power to make that happen.
Live game updates will appear here after kickoff...
NBC premiered Carrie Underwood's new Sunday Night Football theme, then the stadium and everyone watching paid tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on our nation. Once Queen Latifah's rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner was finished, the action on the field got started with the coin toss.
Dallas won the toss and elected to defer possession until the second half.
FIRST QUARTER: Cowboys 16, Giants 0
Aubrey's kick goes into the end zone for a touchback. New York will begin the game with the ball at its own 25.
Shaquon Barkley gets the first carry of the game and gains five. Daniel Jones scrambles for five for a first down, but Jayron Kearse hits him in the head during the slide, and the officials tack on 15 more yards for a first down from the DAL 47.
And just like that the Giants are down to the DAL 27 in seven plays. Barkley seems to be finding the Cowboys' defensive secondary with ease on this opening drive.
Jones scrambles down the right sideline for 11 yards to the DAL 16 and a first down.
-TIMEOUT NYG (#1)-
Jones scrambles for eight yards up to the DAL 8. Jones has three carries for 27 yards on this opening drive, and he's thrown just one pass.
On 3rd and 7, the snap goes between Jones' legs and back to the DAL 13 as Micah Parsons gets the tackle.
TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: The Giants' field goal is blocked and returned 58 yards by Igbinoghene for a touchdown. The extra point by Aubrey is ... MISSED.
Aubrey's kickoff goes for a touchback. The Giants start their next drive from their own 25.
Jones throws for two incompletions while under extreme pressure from the Cowboys pass rushers for a 3rd and 10. Parsons sacks Jones for a loss of 10 yards.
Gillan barely gets the punt off but it goes 58 yards to the DAL 26.
Dak's first throw of the season is complete to TE Jake Ferguson for two yards. Pollard runs for four setting up a 3rd and 4. Dak connects with an absolutely wide-open Lamb for 49 yards to the NYG 19.
Ferguson catches the Dak pass for nine yards to the NYG 9, then Pollard gets four for a Cowboys first down.
Dak to Turnpin for four yards to the NYG 2, for a 3rd and Goal.
-Timeout NYG (#2)-
Dak throws incomplete as his arm was hit by a defender, bringing up a field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL COWBOYS: Aubrey is good from 21 yards for a 9-0 Cowboys lead. The scoring drive goes 72 yards in nine plays and takes 3:45 off the clock.
The kickoff goes to the end zone for a touchback, and the Giants will start at their own 25.
Jones is sacked by Lawrence for a nine-yard loss, then Jones throws incomplete while under pressure, bringing up a 3rd and 19.
TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: Jones passes to Barkley, who catches it and fumbles the ball into the air on the tackle, where it's caught by Bland and returned 22 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.
The Aubrey kick goes to the end zone for a touchback.
Barkley runs for five yards, then again for three for a 3rd and 2 from the NYG 33. Jones runs off right end on a designed quarterback run and the Cowboys are in the backfield to tackle him for a loss of five yards. The Gillan punt goes 62 yards to the DAL 10, returned by Turpin 10 yards to the DAL 20.
Pollard runs off left tackle for a loss of two as he's met in the backfield by Thibodeaux and Riley of the Giants.
-END OF THE FIRST QUARTER-
SECOND QUARTER: Cowboys 26, Giants 0
Prescott passes incomplete to Cooks, then misses Cooks again on 3rd and 12, but a defensive pass interference puts the ball at the NYG 45 for a first down.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION COWBOYS: On 4th and 3 from the NYG 38, Dak hits Cook- who takes a big hit - for six yards and a first down.
Dowdle runs for 10 yards and a first down, then carries two more times for just three yards and a 3rd and 8. Dak passes to Ferguson at the line to gain, but Ferguson drops the ball.
FIELD GOAL COWBOYS: Aubrey is good from 38 yards for a 19-0 Cowboys lead. The scoring drive goes 60 yards in 11 plays and takes 4:26 off the clock.
The kick goes to the end zone for a touchback.
INTERCEPTION COWBOYS: Jones passes down the right side INTERCEPTED by Stephon Gilmore at the NYG 38 for no gain.
Dak hits Cooks deep down the middle for 16 yards and a first down at the NYG 22. Dak carries for six and Pollard gets three for a 3rd and 1 from the NYG 2.
TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: Pollard carries to the right edge and into the end zone for a touchdown. The Aubrey extra point is good for a 26-0 Cowboys lead. The scoring drive goes 38 yards in five plays and takes 2:45 off the clock after the Gilmore interception.
The Cowboys kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Barkley runs the ball for no gain, met at the line of scrimmage by Leighton Vander Esch. Jones hits Campbell for three, but Diggs is called for defensive holding, five yards. First down, Giants at the NYG 30.
On 3rd and 1, Jones finds Waller for eight yards and a first down at the NYG 47.
From Cowboys PR: The last time an NFL team had their first two touchdowns of a season on special teams and/or defense was Minnesota in 2016 (at TEN, 9/11). It's the first time in Cowboys history that the first two touchdowns of the season came from defense and/or special teams.
Barkley runs for a loss of two, then Jones misses Hodgins for a 3rd and 12 from the NYG 45. On 3d and 12, Jone scrambles for just seven yards for a fourth down.
-Timeout DAL (#1)-
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION GIANTS: On 4th and 5, Jones hits Waller for 22 yards to the DAL 27.
On 3rd and 5, Jones finds Barkley through the air for seven and a first down at the DAL 21.
-Two-Minute Warning-
Jones is sacked by Dorance Armstrong for a loss of five. It's the third sack of Jones tonight. Then Jones misses Campbell on the right sideline for a 3rd and 15 from the DAL 19.
On 3rd and 15, Jones gains just one on a scramble.
-Timeout DAL (#2)-
MISSED FIELD GOAL GIANTS: Gano misses from 36 yards out and the Cowboys will take over from their own 18 with 1:05 left in the half.
Dak goes three and out and Anger punts 48 yards to the NYG 22, returned by Gray to the NYG 29.
Jones throws incomplete then is sacked for an 11-yard loss by Odighizuwa.
END OF THE FIRST HALF
THIRD QUARTER: Cowboys 33, Giants 0
The Giants' kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback and the Cowboys will start from their own 25.
Prescott hits Michael Gallup for 10, then Pollard runs for seven. Turpin gets one for a 3rd and 2 coming up. Dak connects with Lamb at the NYG 48 for nine yards and a first down.
Pollard gets big yards with a 25-yard carry to the NYG 23.
Dowdle gets four and Dak throws incomplete in the end zone to TE Peyton Hendershot and it's dropped for a 3rd and 6.
Prescott hits Pollard for seven yards, and Pollard fumbles the ball on the tackle. Biadasz recovers at the NYG 4 for a 1st and Goal.
Pollard runs for three to the NYG 1.
TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: Pollard runs into the end zone on the right side behind Zack Martin for a touchdown. The scoring drive goes 75 yards in 10 plays and takes 4:59 off the clock.
The Cowboys kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback, and the Giants will have the ball at their own 25.
The Giants go three and out and will attempt a 4th and 3 from their own 32.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION: Jones hits Barkley in the left flat for a first down at the NYG 37.
Jones gets sacked for the fifth time tonight, and it's Odighizuwa's second of the night. Jones finds Slayton for two yards, but on 3rd and 12, Jones is sacked again (No. 6), by Armstrong. The Gillan punt goes 39 yards to the DAL 29, returned by Turpin for eight yards a the DAL 37.
Dowdle runs up the middle for three, then Dak throws incomplete to Lamb, but the Giants are called for a defensive holding penalty for five yards and a first down at the DAL 44.
On 3rd and 10 Dak throws incomplete to Cooks. The Anger punt goes 56 yards to the end zone for a touchback.
Barkley runs for 18 yards to the NYG 38, then Jones hits Bellinger for just one. Jones throws again but incomplete for a 3rd and 9 coming up. Jones passes short middle to Slayton for eight yards and a 4th and 1.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION GIANTS: On 4th and 1, Jones sneaks up the middle for a first down.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS TO COWBOYS: On 4th and 8 from midfield, Jones throws incomplete to Hodgins.
-END OF THE THIRD QUARTER-
FOURTH QUARTER: Cowboys 40, Giants 0
Dak takes back to the air and hits Lamb for 19 yards to the NYG 31. Pollard runs up the middle for 12 more to the NYG 19.
On 3rd and 7, Prescott passes short to Turpin for seven and a first down at the NYG 9.
TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS: Turpin runs off left end for nine yards and a touchdown. The scoring drive goes 50 yards in eight plays and takes 3:29 off the clock.
The Aubrey kick goes into the end zone for another touchback and the Giants will start their possession at their own 25.
FUMBLE RECOVERY COWBOYS: Jones hits Hodgins deep down the middle and Diggs strips him on the tackle. The fumble is recovered by Mukuamu at the Dallas 37. First down Cowboys.
Cooper Rush enters the game at quarterback and hands the ball off to Deuce Vaughn for the first carry of his career for five yards. Vaughn carries again for two more. On 3rd and 3, Vaughn gets stuffed behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of five yards. The Anger punt goes 42 yards to the NYG 19.
Jones scrambles off left end for one yard, tackled by Clark. Jones then hits Cager for eight.
On 3rd and 1, Breida runs up the middle for three and a first down.
Jones connects with Cager for nine yards on 3rd and 3 to extend the drive at the NYG 42 with 5:52 left.
Jones is sacked for a seventh time, this time by Chauncy Gholston, for nine yards to the NYG 33.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS TO COWBOYS: On 4th and 14, Jones throws incomplete to Slayton. Dallas takes over at the NYG 38.
Vaughn carries a couple of times for four yards.
-Two-Minute Warning-
Vaughn runs for two on 3rd and 6.
-Timeout DAL (#1)-
TURNOVER ON DOWNS TO GIANTS: Rush passes incomplete across the middle to Tolbert.
Tyrod Taylor in at quarterback for the Giants and he scrambles for six yards, but it's brought back for a holding call on Ezeudu.
Taylor passes to Brightwell for a gain of nine just across midfield.
-END OF GAME-
