NEW YORK, NY — The Dak Prescott-led Dallas Cowboys opened their 2023 season in New York against the New York Giants on Sunday, September 10. The Cowboys dominated from start to finish in a matchup that almost looked like a video game to win, 40-0.
The Dallas Cowboys looked like one of the best teams in the NFL against division rival, the New York Giants. So much so that Prescott took a seat, and backup quarterback Cooper Rush took over the offense with about eight minutes left in the final frame.
In the first, the Giants marched down the field and sent out their kicker, Graham Gano, for a 45-yard attempt. This kick was blocked, and a new member of the Cowboys, former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, recovered the ball and ran it back for a 58-yard score. Dallas missed the point-after attempt that left the score at 6-0 without the Cowboys' offense touching the field.
With about 3:45 left in the first, and after the Giants punted, the Cowboys put up three more points on a field goal from former Plano soccer player Brandon Aubrey to extend the lead to 9-0.
The defensive domination continued when Giant’s quarterback Daniel Jones tossed a pass to running back Saquon Barkley that was jarred loose. Second-year player and cornerback DaRon Bland picked the pass off in the air and ran it in for a quick touchdown. After a successful point after attempt, the Cowboys led 16-0.
Into the second quarter, the Cowboys’ kicked another field goal, and after another interception thrown by Jones to Stephon Gilmore, the Cowboys turned the takeaway into a Tony Pollard touchdown. Dallas led at the half, 26-0.
The Cowboys put up one touchdown in the third, another Pollard touchdown, to make the score 33-0. At the beginning of the fourth, Prescott handed off the ball to receiver KaVontae Turpin for another touchdown, making the lead 40-0.
Rush and rookie running back Deuce Vaughn would get some playing time in the last half of the fourth quarter. It was a back-breaking night for the Giants as they were manhandled at every turn.
The Cowboys sacked Daniel Jones seven times. Jones threw two interceptions and went 15/28 for 104 yards and no touchdowns.
Prescott went 13/24 passing for 143 yards on a rainy night in New York. Pollard took 14 attempts for 70 yards and two scores, and CeeDee Lamb led the receivers with 77 yards.
The real story of the night is the defense. All offseason, fans have heard how good the Dallas defense was going to be, and Dallas put all those fears to bed. The defense excelled all night, causing three fumbles, sacking Jones seven times, and picking off two passes.
The Cowboys return to AT&T Stadium next Sunday, September 17, for a matchup with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. The Jets play their Week 1 matchup on Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills.
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