It was final exam time for the Cowboys, and they failed in spectacular fashion, losing 34-17 to a Giants team that had the rare nine-game losing streak this season. A look at the culprits:
Offense
The key starters (Dak, Pickens, Lamb) disappeared at halftime but it’s not like they lit MetLife on fire before departing. Chasing a passing title, Dak threw for 70 yards, Pickens had a catch for nine yards, Lamb had one for four. The running game was pretty good until Jaydon Blue got stuck in reverse (5 carries, minus-12 yards) in the second half after a 76-yard first half.
Grade: D
Defense
Cowboys
Missing at least three key wide receivers and a tight end, rookie Jaxson Dart threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Gunner Olszewski had the game of his life (8 for 102) as a receiver and the Giants — not one of the better running teams in the league — piled up 161 rushing yards on 32 carries (5.0 average). Jadeveon Clowney gets an A, but everyone else fails.
Grade: F
Special teams
Do we really need to worry about Brandon Aubrey, who missed another field goal (admittedly a 57-yarder in the cold). Turpin, Mr. Big Play Man of late, had an 84-yard kickoff return. It says something that one of the Cowboys’ two touchdown drives started at the New York 14.
Grade: B-minus.
Coaching
It didn’t mean much at the end of the day, but Brian Schottenheimer trying and failing to draw the Giants offside, then using a timeout, was weird behavior just before halftime. As for anything of greater importance, I think it’s clear that Matt Eberflus’ vision from the press box has not fueled a surge in defensive performance.
Grade: D
Overall
The Giants were more depleted than Dallas and had a legitimate reason near the top of the draft board to consider losing as not such a bad thing. But they ran away with the game in the second half for their fourth win of the season. Other than Jaydon Blue bouncing through some holes early and the overall play of Clowney, Cowboys fans had little to cheer in a losing finale.
Grade: F
Dynamic duo: See photos from the Dallas Cowboys’ season finale against the New York Giants
View Gallery
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.