The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants Week 2 matchup might go down as the game of the year. It featured nearly 1,000 yards of total offense, seven second-half lead changes, and 41 points in the fourth quarter alone. Dallas made just enough plays to win, but a major flaw was exposed along the way. This recap of the Cowboys’ wild Week 2 win over the Giants will show where our preview nailed it—and where Dallas came up short.
Cowboys Giants Week 2 Recap: The Offense Looks Potent, But Concerns In The Secondary Cloud Dallas’ Season Outlook
Javonte Williams and the Run Game Showed Up Again
We expected Dallas to encounter a lot of light boxes in their Week 2 matchup with New York, and that’s exactly what happened. The Giants played mostly two-high shells, and the Cowboys took enough advantage to keep them honest. Javonte Williams ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while Miles Sanders added a score of his own. In total, Dallas piled up 135 yards on the ground, including a key 14-yard scamper from Prescott to ice the game and set up the game-winning field goal. While the run-pass balance probably wasn’t what coach Brian Schottenheimer wanted, it was effective enough to open things up in the passing game, especially down the stretch.
Dallas finished 2024 as the second-worst rushing team in the NFL. And based on their offseason moves, there wasn’t much reason to believe that 2025 would be any different. But after opening the season against two of the league’s best defensive lines, there may be real reason for optimism. If the Cowboys are able to consistently field a ground game that opponents have to respect, we may have to reevaluate what Dallas’ ceiling is.
Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (33) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
When Dallas Needed Dak, He Stepped Up
Dak Prescott is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s either elite, or he’s a bum, depending on who you ask. For three-quarters of this game, he looked like the latter. But when it mattered most—in the fourth quarter and overtime—Prescott delivered.
Down four with 2:37 left, Prescott engineered an 11-play, 71-yard drive, capped off with a six-yard touchdown strike to George Pickens that gave Dallas a 37-34 lead with just 48 seconds remaining. That should’ve sealed the game. It didn’t (more on that in a minute).
After the defense allowed the Giants to take the lead, Prescott got the ball back with only 19 seconds to work with. He hit Jake Ferguson on a laser down the middle, setting up Brandon Aubrey for a 64-yard field goal that forced overtime.
On Dallas’ third possession in OT, Prescott connected with Pickens on a 27-yard crosser, then scrambled for 14 yards two plays later to effectively ice the game.
Dak wasn’t perfect today—38/52 for 361 yards, two touchdowns and a bad pick—and he might not be a top-ten quarterback in the league anymore. But when the game is on the line, Prescott has delivered time and again. If Dallas can tighten things up defensively, Dak and the offense have what it takes to contend at the highest level.
Dak Prescott, quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs out of the pocket against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Secondary was a Disaster
So why didn’t Dak’s touchdown pass to Pickens win the game?
Because Dallas’ secondary got absolutely torched.
Russell Wilson looked like 2013 Russ, throwing for 450 yards and three touchdowns. The afternoon played out exactly how we predicted: give him time in the pocket, and he can still throw the best deep ball in the league. That’s exactly what he did. Over and over again.
Malik Nabers was as advertised, burning anyone who lined up across from him. He shredded Dallas for 9 catches, 167 yards, and two long touchdowns. More concerning, Wan’Dale Robinson—a shifty slot guy—hauled in 8 passes for 142 yards and a 50 yard touchdown.
Wilson dropped ’em all over the field, and there wasn’t a thing Dallas could do about it.
Every defensive back got cooked. Kaiir Elam, Trevon Diggs, Donovan Wilson—it didn’t matter. They all got beat repeatedly. With DaRon Bland sidelined and Diggs looking nothing like his former self, there was no one to stabilize the secondary.
Giving up 450 passing yards and trying to win shootouts week-after-week isn’t sustainable. The offense might be good enough to bail them out in games like this one—where the Giants couldn’t stop committing penalties. But if Dallas wants to win consistently, they can’t keep surrendering explosive plays through the air.
With Matt Eberflus running the defense, it’s unclear what adjustments are coming. His zone-heavy scheme requires a particular skillset from his defensive backs, and today, they looked completely lost. Communication breakdowns, poor technique, and missed assignments.
Something will have to change in the secondary if this team wants to be taken seriously.
Cowboys Giants Week 2 Recap: A Win is a Win, But the Issues are Real
As we wrap up this recap of the Cowboys’ Week 2 win over the Giants, it’s clear the game was thrilling, but far from reassuring. It was chaos, and Dallas managed to survive it.
But surviving against a team you should’ve handled easily leaves a lot to be desired, and the Giants exposed some glaring weaknesses the Cowboys will need to address.
The run game looked strong for the second straight week. Dak delivered in crunch time. And Brandon Aubrey continues to show why he’s the best kicker in the NFL. Those are big positives.
But on the other side of the ball, the defense was flat-out bad. The secondary looked like it was always playing a guy short, and we didn’t even get into the lack of a pass rush. It’s a minor miracle the Cowboys won a game where they gave up 450 yards and three touchdowns through the air. That formula won’t hold up against better opponents.
There’s plenty to clean up, but a win is a win. And also a warning.
Main Photo: [Raymond Carlin III] – Imagn Images