Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered an unusually candid admission this week after the New York Giants stunned his team 28-20 in the NFL season opener at MetLife Stadium.
Speaking Friday on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Jones said the Giants performed better than his organization had anticipated.
“And I will tell you, they were better than we thought they were. I’m anxious to see how New York continues to play, but I really — combination of things,” Jones said. “We didn’t play as well as we should play and can, but they played better than I thought they could.”
The win marked the Giants’ first season-opening victory since 2022. New York’s offense outpaced a Cowboys unit built around quarterback Dak Prescott and receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, connecting twice with tight end Isaiah Likely, an offseason addition and fellow recruit of head coach John Harbaugh.
Running back Cam Skattebo, playing his second season after an ankle injury cut short his rookie year, rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He capped the score with a backflip in the end zone.
New York’s offensive line dominated up front, piling up 165 rushing yards and averaging 5.8 yards per play against a Dallas defense that Jones has praised throughout the offseason.
Jones attributed Dallas’s uneven opener to the team still adjusting to new coaches and schemes. The Giants faced a similar adjustment period under a new head coach and an offense designed by coordinator Matt Nagy, yet found early success regardless.
Both teams now turn to their next matchups. The Giants look to prove the opening win was no fluke in a Monday night game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Cowboys, meanwhile, host the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium as they try to right the ship against a division rival.
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