Dak Prescott completed 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards and threw scoring passes to CeeDee Lamb and Javonte Williams, who also ran for a touchdown. The production was not enough to carry Dallas past the New York Giants in a 28-20 result that began the Cowboys’ 2026 campaign.
New York rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart accounted for 230 passing yards and 54 rushing yards. Dallas struggled when Dart left the pocket, giving him opportunities to keep plays alive and gain additional yardage. The Cowboys also committed eight penalties totaling 85 yards.
A taunting penalty on Williams after a touchdown pushed Brandon Aubrey’s extra-point try farther from the uprights. Coach Brian Schottenheimer took responsibility for the infractions and said the players and coaching staff shared ownership of the errors. He said Dallas fell short of its standard, needed better coaching and must help its less-experienced players progress quickly.
Schottenheimer called the outcome humbling and said Dallas was ineffective at the start on offense and defense. The Cowboys had surrendered 30.1 points per game, the NFL’s highest figure, in 2025, then entered this season with new defensive personnel. Dallas is set to host Washington next Sunday, although no additional preparation details were provided.
