Giants Try to Avoid Repeat of Season Opener as They Head to Dallas

ARLINGTON, Texas — The New York Giants opened their media session this week with coach Brian Daboll offering a detailed, nearly four-minute, 591-word assessment of the Dallas Cowboys they will face Sunday at AT&T Stadium, a departure from his typical short "Good morning" and quick Q-and-A.

Daboll named 13 Cowboys, reviewed how Dallas performed in Week 1 and analyzed its special teams, offense and defense before closing with: "So, it'll be a good challenge for us on the road, in Dallas, and we're going to have to be at our best." The lengthy briefing came as the Giants try to rebound from a 21-6 season-opening loss to the Washington Commanders in which New York failed to score a touchdown.

The loss to Washington renewed scrutiny of an offense that fell short in red-zone opportunities, including two trips inside the 3-yard line that produced no touchdowns. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson has drawn public and internal attention after the display, and the depth chart includes rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart as the primary backup, with veteran Jameis Winston also available.

"Let's not make this overly complicated," Wilson said. "We've got to score. We've got to make plays down there, and I think that's the name of the game." Dart, 22, said his role is to stay prepared. "My job is just to be prepared each and every week," he said. "We have a great quarterback room, and I think that all of us have the exact same approach of not looking so much of being on the field, but just preparing each and every day for whenever and however an opportunity may come."

The Giants enter Week 2 with 0-1 records, as do the Cowboys after Dallas lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Dallas will be without linebacker Micah Parsons, a notable absence, but quarterback Dak Prescott has dominated this matchup over recent years: Prescott is 13-0 in starts against the Giants since 2016.

Linebacker Bobby Okereke, asked about Prescott's streak, said, "Couldn't really tell you. For us, we're focused in the moment. You look to the past to learn lessons but other than that, we’re focused on the opportunity in front of us. We have a great opportunity this Sunday, against a division opponent who’s very good."

The historical edge is stark. The Giants carry an eight-game losing streak against the Cowboys, have lost eight consecutive road games in the series and have dropped 15 of the last 16 meetings. Only five current Giants — Darius Slayton, Dexter Lawrence, Andrew Thomas, Casey Kreiter and Graham Gano — were with the team the last time New York beat Dallas, in the 2020 season finale.

In addition to offensive woes, New York will again be without left tackle Andrew Thomas for Sunday's game, a factor Daboll acknowledged while assessing the matchup. The Giants scored six points against Washington; by comparison, the Commanders won 14 games in 2024 while the Giants won three.

Daboll's extended media remarks focused on preparing his team for a difficult week on the road. He reviewed personnel and tendencies he expects to see from the Cowboys and highlighted areas — special teams, offensive scheming and defensive alignments — where the Giants must execute better to compete in Dallas.

The immediate priorities for New York are clear in coach and player comments: produce points, convert in the red zone and stabilize quarterback play. Daboll's talk about the opponent suggested a coaching staff intent on shifting attention away from the team's own failure in Week 1 and toward tactical preparation for a division rematch.

Sunday's game will test whether the Giants can reverse a recent trend of losses to the Cowboys and whether Wilson, his backups and the offensive line can generate enough scoring to avoid a deeper early-season hole. The Giants practiced and addressed the matchup on Sept. 12, 2025, with the team publicly emphasizing focus on execution and opportunities in front of them.

The Cowboys-Giants rivalry presents immediate stakes beyond records: a divisional win would carry momentum in a competitive NFC East, while a second straight loss for New York would extend its skid and increase pressure on personnel decisions. The Giants, coming off an opener with an anemic attack, say the focus remains on preparation and performance rather than historical trends.

Daboll's longer-than-usual media session signaled a coaching staff concentrating on opponent study ahead of a high-profile road test. How the Giants translate that preparation into points and stops Sunday will determine whether the season begins to shift or the team's early questions deepen.