The New York Giants hosted their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday Night Football to open their 2023 regular season schedule.
The game was played under a steady rain most of the night.
Buy Giants TicketsQuarterback and offensive captain Daniel Jones was the lone Giant representing the team during the opening coin toss.
Before the game, the Giants paid tribute to the souls lost 22 years ago tomorrow in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Music, film and television star Queen Latifah – who hails from New Jersey – sang the National Anthem backed by members of the NYPD, FDNY and other uniformed service members.
Giants honor 9/11 heroes and fallen pic.twitter.com/L9zhg7SOBd
— TOM CANAVAN (@APTCan) September 11, 2023
𝐁𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐓 pic.twitter.com/2dEykWe5Wz
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 10, 2023
Here’s a recap of the Giants’ loss in Week 1:
Final score: Cowboys 40, Giants 0
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Giants | 16 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 40 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Keys to the game
- The Giants began the game with the ball on their own 25 and actually drove down to the Dallas eight. Then, the wheels fell off: a false start, a bad snap and a blocked field goal run back 58 yards for a touchdown. Dallas scored 19 points off Giants’ miscues in the first half.
- Jones was harassed on practically every snap. He was sacked seven times, hit many more and was literally running for his life. The Cowboys dominated the Giants in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
- The Cowboys speed on defense caught the Giants by surprise. The offensive line looked statuesque on many a play and the defense was manhandled and looked a bit confused in coverage.
- The Giants couldn’t even get the basics done. Gano actually missed a 37-yard field goal at the end of the first half. It was a wet night, granted, but they had breakdowns in almost every facet of the game.
It was over when...
…when the Cowboys scored a touchdown on a blocked field goal and then another on an interception to take a 16-0 lead with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter.
The #Giants had a drive that looked really good… and then a false start, an awful snap, and then this blocked FG going the other way for a #Cowboys TD.
Turned upside down real quick.pic.twitter.com/DEJo6z5Vdu
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 11, 2023
The Dallas Pick-6 👀 pic.twitter.com/5MWkmQGEMM
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) September 11, 2023
Players of the game
- QB Daniel Jones: he played practically the entire game in the rain, got hammered several dozen times and never displayed the appropriate level of frustration. Yes, he made a slew of mistakes but you have to hand it to him, he’s dedicated.
- LB Micah McFadden: I know the Giants missed a ton of tackles and got blocked all over the field all night. But McFadden played hard and led the team with 10 total tackles.
- TE Darren Waller: Plagued by a hamstring strain all week, he came out and gave a preview of things to come with three receptions for 36 yards.
Injuries
The Giants made no announcements during the game, but both offensive tackles – Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal – were both attended to on the sidelined in the first half for leg/ankle issues.
The Giants’ first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, Deonte Banks, limped off the field in the first half with cramps.
Matt Peart, who came in to play left tackle in the second half, left the field with an undisclosed injury and did not return. He was spelled by Joshua Ezeudu.
What's next?
Giants head coach Brian Daboll will hold a Zoom call with the team’s beat writers on Monday afternoon before a few players are also made available.
The Giants will return to practice on Tuesday ahead of a Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 17 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kickoff is 4:05 p.m. ET.
