The New York Giants suffered another heartbreaking defeat to their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in a 22-15 loss under the Thursday night lights. Despite a career-high-tying five field goals from kicker Greg Joseph, the Giants’ offense stalled, and they couldn’t find the end zone for the entirety of the game.
Joseph’s performance was the lone bright spot for New York, as he drilled field goals from 52, 41, 38, 22, and 42 yards. His five field goals tied his career-best, a feat he previously accomplished in a 2022 win with the Minnesota Vikings. Joseph also became just the second kicker in Giants history to make three field goals of at least 40 yards in a game, joining Graham Gano, who has done it six times for New York.
While Joseph kept the Giants in the game with his leg, the offense’s inability to capitalize in key moments sealed their fate. Quarterback Daniel Jones completed 29 of 40 passes for 281 yards, but his only interception, a desperation heave in the closing seconds, thwarted any hope of a comeback. Jones was sharp early, completing 13 of 15 passes for 142 yards in the first half, but the Giants’ offensive execution crumbled as the game wore on.
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was a standout, catching a career-high 12 passes for 115 yards on 15 targets. His 39-yard reception was the Giants’ longest play from scrimmage all season, but it wasn’t enough to spark the struggling offense. Wan’Dale Robinson also had a career night with 11 catches for 71 yards.
Defensively, the Giants’ pass rush was mostly neutralized by a strong Cowboys offensive line. Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux recorded the team’s only sack, an 8-yard takedown of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott late in the second quarter, breaking a long drought dating back to 2021. Rookie safety Tyler Nubin and linebacker Micah McFadden led the Giants with eight tackles each, as the defense held Dallas to just 22 points despite the offensive struggles.
However, the Cowboys capitalized on the Giants’ special teams mishaps. Wide receiver Tyrone Tracy fumbled the second-half kickoff, which was recovered by Dallas’ Chris Manhertz, setting up a field goal that widened the Cowboys’ lead. Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey also nailed a 60-yard field goal in the third quarter, one of the longest ever against the Giants.
New York’s ground game was completely ineffective, managing just 26 rushing yards on 24 carries. Running back Devin Singletary accounted for 24 of those yards, as Jones, Tyrone Tracy, and Eric Gray combined for just six yards rushing, with Nabers losing four yards on an end-around play.
The Giants’ struggles in prime time continued, as they dropped to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the NFC East. This loss marked their seventh straight defeat to the Cowboys and 14th in their last 15 meetings. New York has now lost nine consecutive Thursday night games dating back to 2016 and is 3-19 in prime-time games since 2018.
Head coach Brian Daboll’s team now faces an uphill battle as they head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Oct. 6, hoping to turn around a season that’s quickly slipping away.
Key Statistics:
- Greg Joseph: 5-for-5 on field goals (52, 41, 38, 22, 42 yards)
- Daniel Jones: 29/40, 281 yards, 1 interception
- Malik Nabers: 12 receptions, 115 yards
- Wan’Dale Robinson: 11 receptions, 71 yards
- Kayvon Thibodeaux: 1 sack
- Rushing Attack: 26 yards on 24 carries
Up Next: The Giants (1-3) travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in another challenging road game. With their NFC East hopes dwindling, it’s a must-win for Daboll’s squad as they try to avoid digging a deeper hole in the standings.
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