The Giants’ 28-20 upset of the Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” caught nearly everyone off guard—including the fans at MetLife Stadium, viewers watching at home and even Dallas owner Jerry Jones.
Speaking Friday on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Jones offered a candid assessment of his team’s narrow season-opening loss.
In an unusual display of humility, the outspoken owner acknowledged that New York was a stronger team than Dallas had anticipated—a notable departure from the usual division-rival perspective.
“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,” he told the radio station. “We didn’t play as well as we should play and can, but they played better than I thought they could.”
The victory marked the Giants’ first season-opening win since 2022. Big Blue overcame a formidable Cowboys offense led by quarterback Dak Prescott and receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
New York’s offense got off to an impressive start behind Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo in their second year.
Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scoring throws went to offseason addition Isaiah Likely, a tight end and fellow John Harbaugh recruit.
Skattebo also made an impact in his return from an ankle injury that ended his rookie season prematurely. He ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, then celebrated his score with a backflip.
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The Giants controlled the line of scrimmage, rushing for 165 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per play against a revamped Dallas defense that Jones had praised throughout the offseason.
For Jones, the Cowboys’ performance fell short of what he expected in the season opener.
When asked to explain the result, he pointed to the team’s adjustment to new coaches and unfamiliar schemes.
The Giants, meanwhile, managed to navigate a similar transition successfully with a new head coach and an offense designed by coordinator Matt Nagy.
New York will try to prove its victory was no fluke when it faces the Rams in a Monday night matchup.
Dallas will look to rebound against another NFC East opponent when it hosts the Commanders at AT&T Stadium, the house that Jerry built.