EAST RUTHERFORD,\u00a0N.J.\u00a0\u2014 Cowboys fans have learned to expect better results when watching games played in MetLife Stadium. That only adds to the pain in an otherwise all-too-familiar look from a team trying to find its way back to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.\u00a0They\u2019re not going anywhere playing like this.<\/p>\n
Scoring touchdowns in half of your real possessions is not a bad thing. At least under normal circumstances. But the Cowboys chose to punt on fourth and 1 on their opening series, then committed a killer interception<\/a> less than a minute before halftime which changed the course of the game.\u00a0Dak Prescott threw for barely 5 yards per attempt. Javonte Williams managed less than 3.5 yards per carry as the offensive line learned that life without Tyler Smith will be no picnic. When CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are held to 72 yards combined (with three drops), it\u2019s a really rough opening night.<\/p>\n Young quarterback\u00a0Jaxson Dart is good, but he\u2019s no MVP candidate. He would be if he faced this defense week after week. He completed nearly 80 percent of his passes, ran freely and just kept the Giants offense humming for 36 minutes. Donovan Ezeiruaku had his moments up front, but the Cowboys<\/a> had only two sacks for a loss of 1 yard. In other words, their pressure was meaningless. And the whole world knew that tight end Isaiah Likely was going to be a big target but Dallas couldn\u2019t contain him at all (8 receptions on 8 targets, 78 yards, two TDs.)<\/p>\n Not a big factor in the game, although Brandon Aubrey\u2019s kick after Williams\u2019 touchdown reached the end zone, giving the Giants a short field (65 yards) which they traveled to put the game away. Aubrey also missed a long extra point following Williams\u2019 taunting penalty<\/a>, although it didn\u2019t make a difference since Dallas never regained possession. KaVontae Turpin averaged a solid 24 yards on his kick returns.<\/p>\n Brian\u00a0Schottenheimer was ready to take much of the blame for this one, and he\u2019s not wrong. This was a team wholly unprepared for a season opener\u00a0\u2014 bad penalties, players out of position, four drops by wide receivers. And it\u2019s hard to believe Christian Parker<\/a> couldn\u2019t relay some wisdom to someone when the defense repeatedly left Devin Singletary wide open on swing passes that put the game out of reach.<\/p>\n