- The New York Giants lost to the Dallas Cowboys 40-37 in overtime, marking their ninth consecutive loss to the rival team.
- Giants quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns, a significant improvement from his Week 1 performance.
- Despite Wilson’s strong passing game, a crucial interception in overtime set up the Cowboys’ game-winning field goal.
In what has become a rite of passage in Sundays in the fall, the New York Giants inexplicably lost a game they were winning in the final moments, this time to the Dallas Cowboys, 40-37, in an overtime finish that featured six lead changes from the fourth quarter on.
The difference, however, was the success of the passing attack. Quarterback Russell Wilson put up 450 yards through the air on 30-of-41 passing with three touchdowns, one week after the media – this author squarely included – said he should lose his job.
His patented ‘moon balls’ were as beautiful as a waning crescent that angles the sky perfectly. According to NextGen Stats, Wilson has completed 7 of 9 deep passes for 264 yards, the most deep passing yards in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). He found receivers Wan’Dale Robinson and Malik Nabers for touchdowns of 32 and 48 yards, respectively, within the final three minutes.
So, sorry, Russ. If that feels like a half-hearted apology, well, it sorta is. The statistics looked sexy. Only Eli Manning, Phil Simms and Y.A. Tittle have thrown for more yards in Giants history. But the sustainability of such an attack, one that can’t run the ball, while putting a defense that clearly can’t hold up on the back foot, is dubious. Just look at the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s certainly a step in the right direction. But a celebration? Save the party hats and streamers.
Nonetheless, the accuracy returned after a 17-for-37 end-zone-less showing Week 1 against the Washington Commanders. Making his second Giants’ start, Wilson appeared much more comfortable behind a still-shaky offensive line and picked apart the Cowboys’ secondary until it mattered most.
Wilson was on his way to a career high in passing yards (452), but his last completion went four minus-four yards on first down in overtime. On second down, he and Nabers were not on the same page – Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson could have set up a folding chair as Wilson’s pass hung in the air before he caught it for an interception. Earier in overtime, he nearly fumbled the game away but the ball luckily bounced out of bounds.
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a game-winning 46-yard field goal after his 64-yard connection tied the game at 37 to send it to overtime.
Were it not for Aubrey’s clutch kicks, the overall tone of the result – either a victory or tie – is obviously better.
The reality is that Giants have lost nine straight games to the Cowboys and Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott hasn’t lost to the NFC East rival since 2016. They are 0-2 for the seventh time in nine seasons. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier over the first half of the season. The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers all loom through Week 9.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, avoided the dreaded 0-2 start. The secondary clearly has holes, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones has to be pleased with his defense’s performance against the run over its first two games. And the air-raid attack led by quarterback Dak Prescott (38-for-52, two touchdowns, one interception) has a better shot of being a season-long success compared to the Giants’ attempt to run it.