Who needs playoffs when you can play spoiler and tank your draft position in one afternoon?
The New York Giants closed out their disappointing 2025 season on a high note, pounding the equally eliminated Dallas Cowboys 34-17 in a lopsided Week 18 affair at MetLife Stadium that felt more like a Giants home celebration than a rivalry showdown.
Score Summary
The Giants took control after a competitive first quarter and never looked back:
- 1st Quarter: Cowboys 10, Giants 6 – Dallas struck first with a field goal and Jaydon Blue’s rushing TD; Giants answered with Jaxson Dart’s TD pass to Tyrone Tracy Jr. (missed XP).
- 2nd Quarter: Cowboys 0, Giants 10 – A field goal and Dart’s 29-yard TD to Daniel Bellinger put New York ahead 16-10 at halftime.
- 3rd Quarter: Cowboys 0, Giants 8 – Dart hit Tracy again for a TD, followed by a two-point conversion after a sideline scuffle.
- 4th Quarter: Cowboys 7, Giants 10 – Phil Mafah scored for Dallas, but Devin Singletary’s TD run and another field goal sealed the 34-17 final.
Turning Points
- Halftime Lead Grab: Bellinger’s touchdown flipped the script, giving the Giants momentum they rode throughout.
- Sideline Ejection Chaos: A third-quarter facemask and helmet-ripping incident led to Cowboys DE Donovan Ezeiruaku’s ejection, firing up the Giants and deflating Dallas.
- Prescott’s Early Bench: Dak played only the first half before sitting, turning the game into exhibition mode for the Cowboys.
- Ground Game Dominance: Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s versatile performance wore down the defense, setting up the fourth-quarter clincher.
Standout Performances
- Jaxson Dart (Giants QB): Cool and efficient with 230 passing yards and 2 TDs, plus rushing yards— a bright spot for the future.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Giants RB): 103 rushing yards, 56 receiving, and a TD—back-to-back 1,000-yard scrimmage seasons.
- Gunner Olszewski (Giants WR): Team-high 102 receiving yards on 8 catches.
- Ben Sauls (Giants K): Perfect on four field goals, adding crucial points.
- On the Cowboys side: Limited highlights in a throwaway game, with rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah getting their first NFL TDs.
Playoff Implications
Neither team was playing for postseason berths—both already eliminated—but the outcome stings differently. The Giants finish 4-13 with back-to-back wins and some momentum into an offseason of coaching searches and GM questions, but the victory cost them dearly in the draft, dropping them out of the top-two picks. Dallas ends 7-9-1 in another underachieving year, with Dak Prescott voicing frustrations and potential staff changes looming. A meaningless game on paper, but one that highlighted rebuilding pains for both NFC East foes.
