The Dallas Cowboys lost to the New York Giants on Sunday, the first loss they experienced against the Giants since the season finale of another lost season in 2020.

It was back then that the Cowboys were lost at sea as they had missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons and were in sore need of establishing a new identity. We knew way before Sunday’s game at MetLife that Dallas would miss out on the postseason for the second straight year and like half a decade ago this team is majorly in need of figuring things out. The loss on Sunday hardly proves that as much as it finally starts the process with the offseason officially beginning.

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Dallas Cowboys football is something that we all love and enjoy for the most part. It is a common denominator that we share among us which is why the last few weeks, the overall season, life since the 2023 Wild Card Round overall… has been a bummer.

It feels like more of a relief than anything that the season is over which is a testament to modern times. Maybe the Cowboys will finally pull it all together now that The Drought™ if officially going to reach the age of 30, or perhaps we will find a new way to lie to ourselves that they will.

Another season formally ended on Sunday. Below is exactly how it all unfolded.

Welcome to the offseason.

First Quarter

The Cowboys won the toss and deferred which put the defense on the field first. Obviously the special teams takes the field before anybody and in this case that was relevant as Brandon Aubrey butchered the opening kickoff. He left it shy of the landing zone so the Giants got to start their drive at their own 40-yard line. They still ultimately wound up punting, though.

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On the punt… it looked like the Giants initially botched downing it deep inside of Dallas territory when the broadcast cut to commercial. When the game resumed officials had ruled that the Giants did indeed successfully down it so the Cowboys were up against their own goal line to start.

The Cowboys got out to almost their own 30-yard line before disaster struck. Dak Prescott seemed to lose his footing after taking a snap and fumbled. New York recovered to give them a great chance to score. They ultimately did, but only by way of a field goal.

SCORE: COWBOYS 0, GIANTS 3 (Ben Sauls field goal)

Jaydon Blue looked fantastic on the next drive for the Cowboys and helped put them within striking distance themselves. Unfortunately they were not able to cash all the way in, but they did equalize with a field goal of their own.

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SCORE: COWBOYS 3, GIANTS 3 (Brandon Aubrey field goal)

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart looked very comfortable on the next drive and in the blink of an eye had his team on the verge of scoring. Once again they had to settle for a field goal and Jadeveon Clowney was a big reason for that.

SCORE: COWBOYS 3, GIANTS 6 (Ben Sauls field goal)

KaVontae Turpin had a huge return right after and put the Cowboys in business right away. They were at New York’s 11-yard line and it took them two plays to find the endzone as Jaydon Blue picked up his first NFL touchdown,

SCORE: COWBOYS 10, GIANTS 6 (Jaydon Blue touchdown)

The quarter came to an end right after.

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Second Quarter

Once again the Giants moved the ball with relative ease, but the Cowboys defense stood tall when things mattered most. Jadeveon Clowney was present yet again and the Giants had to settle for another three-pointer.

SCORE: COWBOYS 10, GIANTS 9 (Ben Sauls field goal)

The Cowboys were in business yet again and were moving and grooving on offense. They got all the way down to the doorstep of the Giants’ part of the field and faced a 4th and 2 from the New York 3-yard line.

Brian Schottenheimer called a timeout to make sure that the Cowboys got the right play in, but unfortunately the right play turned out to be the wrong one as Dallas failed to convert and turned the ball over on downs.

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New York took over obviously and it looked like they were going to have to punt things away. Kenneth Murray took care of that by way of a penalty that gave them some new life.

They took it. Partly because the Cowboys kept on giving it to them. New York scored one of the most wild touchdowns you will ever see. Look at this.

SCORE: COWBOYS 10, GIANTS 16 (Jaxson Dart to Daniel Bellinger touchdown)

That was it. Halftime.

Third Quarter

The Cowboys appeared to have transitioned to the offseason during halftime as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens were not a part of the possession to open the second half. It was Joe Milton time which was interesting given how the Cowboys talked all week long about valuing the win and were trailing when they made the move.

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New York clearly cared about winning as they went down the field and scored as if the game were depending on it. It was Tyrone Tracy who found the endzone, but right after he did there was a scuffle on the field. Maybe everybody was ready for the offseason.

SCORE: COWBOYS 10, GIANTS 24 (Tyrone Tracy touchdown)

The scuffle involved a penalty against Donovan Ezeiruaku and he was called for removing a Giants’ player’s helmet. He was ejected and the Giants went for two thanks to the penalty and ultimately got it.

Joe Milton managed to move a bit and the Cowboys found themselves in a spot to attempt a 57-yard field goal that Brandon Aubrey missed. One of those days.

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It looked like things were going to really get away from the Cowboys, but Jadeveon Clowney stepped in and forced a fumble to stop the bleeding. He really had quite the day at MetLife.

The quarter ended with Dallas on the verge of scoring.

Fourth Quarter

The period began with Phil Mafah finding the endzone and just like Jaydon Blue earlier in the game it was the first of his career.

SCORE: COWBOYS 17, GIANTS 24 (Phil Mafah touchdown)

The next Giants possession was filled with all sorts of hilarity. Pass interference penalties both ways as both teams looked completely confused. It ultimately ended with a Giants field goal which all but locked this up as a win for them.

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SCORE: COWBOYS 17, GIANTS 27 (Ben Sauls field goal)

Joe Milton threw a pick to start the drive which just about did it. The only really notable thing to happen after was Clowney picking up yet another sack… his third of the day.

The Giants scored again to end any doubt.

SCORE: COWBOYS 17, GIANTS 34 (Devin Singletary touchdown)

Each team took turn burning clock until it was over.

Ballgame. Season.