The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2026 NFL season with hopes of returning to contention, but their season opener highlighted some immediate concerns.
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Dallas suffered a 28-20 loss on Sunday night against the division-rival New York Giants. The team struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys were outgained 394-244 and possessed the ball for less than 24 minutes as New York controlled the majority of the game.
Despite those struggles, Dallas had the ball late in the second quarter with a chance to take the lead.
Tied 7-7 with 58 seconds to go before halftime, quarterback Dak Prescott took a shotgun snap on third-and-5 from his own 36-yard line. Prescott scrambled to his right and fired an ill-advised throw down the right sideline. What initially looked like a throwaway quickly turned disastrous, as Giants safety Jevon Holland intercepted the pass before stepping out of bounds at the Giants’ 45-yard line.
New York took advantage of the turnover, finding the end zone before halftime to take a 14-7 lead. The Giants received possession after halftime and put together an eight-minute touchdown drive to take a two-possession lead.
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Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it clear just how important he believes Prescott’s mistake was to the outcome. According to The Athletic’s Jon Machota on X, Jones pointed directly to the turnover when discussing Sunday’s loss during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan.
“Definitely the turning point in the game,” Jones said of Prescott’s interception.
Prescott, a four-time Pro Bowler, finished the night completing 22 of 34 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. While he was not responsible for all of the Cowboys’ problems, his lone turnover came at perhaps the worst possible time. The Giants offense tore through the Cowboys’ defense at times, including 165 yards on the ground and over 36 minutes of possession.
Jones may be right to identify Prescott’s interception as the moment Sunday’s game changed, but the Cowboys also have plenty to clean up on the defensive side of the ball as they look to avoid an 0-2 start.
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