Giants-Cowboys final score: New York falls, 44-20, to Dallas

The New York Giants lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 44-20, on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. The Giants dropped to 1-4 on the season while the NFC-East leading Cowboys improved to 4-1.

Injuries dominated the game for the Giants, who lost quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley in the first half due to a concussion and ankle injury, respectively. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay and cornerback Rodarius Williams also suffered injuries in the game. Left tackle Andrew Thomas was active, but did not play due to a foot injury.

How it happened

The Giants defense got off to a strong start when Lorenzo Carter intercepted Dak Precott’s pass intended for Ezekiel Elliott on the Cowboys’ opening drive. Daniel Jones drove the New York offense down the field to set up a 54-yard field goal. But Gano’s kick fell short, snapping the kicker’s streak of seven-straight field goals converted beyond the 50-yard line.

On the Cowboys’ following drive, Greg Zuerlein converted a 31-yard field goal at 6:17 to give Dallas a 3-0 lead.

With about five minutes left in the first quarter, the Giants offense suffered a major blow. Saquon Barkley injured his left ankle and was unable to return to the game. Barkley played just two games in 2020 before missing the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

With 38 seconds left in the first, the Cowboys drove all the way down to the field to the Giants’ 5-yard line. But Prescott fumbled the football and it was recovered by linebacker Reggie Ragland. The recovery stopped Dallas’ momentum and gave the Giants the ball at their own 8-yard line. It was also the second takeaway by New York in the first quarter alone.

New York was unable to capitalize on the turnover.

Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb for an explosive 49-yard touchdown pass at 12:06 in the second quarter to extend the Cowboys’ lead to 10-0. Lamb ran right past Giants CB James Bradberry, who was in coverage on the play.

The Giants had an explosive play of their own when Jones connected with Kadarius Toney for a 43-yard catch down the sideline to advance to the Dallas 37-yard line. The throw set up a 51-yard field goal by Gano at 10:15 to make it 10-3.

With just under five minutes left in the second quarter, Jones connected with Toney for a 28-yard catch in which Toney dodged multiple defenders to set the Giants up on the Cowboys’ two-yard line. On third-and-1, Jones ran a keeper to the left to try to get into the endzone. But as Jones lowered his head and tried to power forward, his helmet collided with the helmet of Cowboys linebacker Jabril Cox. Jones staggered upon getting up, walked to the sideline and was carted to the locker room.

After failing to score on the three tries, the Giants went for it on fourth-and-inches with backup quarterback Mike Glennon under center. Devontae Booker converted a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 10 at 2:51 in the second quarter.

With 41 seconds left to play in the half, Prescott connected with Amari Cooper for a 24-yard touchdown to take a 17-10 lead into the locker room.

Gano converted a 51-yard field goal to start the second half for the Giants, making the score 17-13 at 11:18 in the third quarter. The Cowboys extended their lead though when Prescott connected with Elliot on short four-yard touchdown pass at 7:17 in the third quarter to give Dallas a 24-13 lead.

Trailing 34-13 after another Cowboys field goal and touchdown score, the Giants tacked on one final score when Glennon completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Booker to make it 34-20 with 3:24 left in the game. The Cowboys scored 10 more unanswered points to make the final score, 44-20.

Injury news

Saquon Barkley left the game with an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Daniel Jones suffered a concussion in the second quarter and did not return to the game.

Kenny Golladay was ruled out of the game in the first half with a knee injury.

Cornerback Rodarius Williams was carted off the field in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

Due to these injuries in the first half, the Giants entered the second half without the following players on offense: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Andrew Thomas, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton.

Read more about the injuries to Barkley and Jones here.

Rotating offensive line

The Giants fielded their fifth starting offensive line combination in five games Sunday. Nate Solder got the start at left tackle, Matt Peart at right tackle, Matt Skura at left guard for the second-straight week, Billy Price at center and Will Hernandez at right guard. Andrew Thomas, who had started every game so far this season at left guard, did not get the start Sunday. Thomas has been dealing with a foot injury. Wes Martin split time with Skura at left guard.

Rookie Kadarius Toney had a brilliant game for the Giants, with 196 yards of total offense. Toney, though, was ejected in the fourth quarter for throwing a punch at a Dallas defender.

First-half stats

The Giants trailed the Cowboys, 17-10, at the half. Jones was 5 of 13 for 98 yards.

The Giants had seven first downs while the Cowboys had 12. New York had 154 yards of total offense while Dallas recorded 278.

The Cowboys won the time-of-possession battle in the first half, holding the ball for 17:02 compared to 12:58 for the Giants.

The Cowboys had three turnovers in the first four games combined and the Giants forced two in the first quarter alone.

Stats

• Giants quarterback Mike Glennon was 16 of 25 for 196 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
• Devontae Booker had 16 rushing attempts for 42 yards and one touchdown.
• Kadarius Toney had a career day with 10 receptions for 189 yards.
• Linebacker Lorenzo Carter recorded one interception.

Giants inactives

• WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring)
• WR Darius Slayton (hamstring)
• S Jabrill Peppers (hamstring)
• OL Ben Bredeson (hand)
• CB Josh Jackson
• CB Sam Beal

What’s next?

The Giants will return home to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 17 to host the Los Angeles Rams at 1 p.m.