The Dallas Cowboys were slow in their Thanksgiving game against the New York Giants.
The Cowboys woke up as the game went on. Dallas overcame a first-half hole to beat their NFC rivals 28-20.
Dak Prescott’s day was like the Cowboys’: two halves. He went 6-for-10 for 116 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions for a 44.8 passing rating. In the second half, he completed 15-of-20 throws for 145 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions for a 91.1 passer rating.
CeeDee Lamb had 106 receiving yards, including several highlight-reel receptions. Michael Gallup had his finest game with 63 receiving yards. Dalton Schultz tied a career best with two touchdowns.
The Cowboys ran for 170 yards, their fourth consecutive game over 150. Tony Pollard added 60 yards on 18 carries to Ezekiel Elliott’s 92.
Dallas’ defence improved throughout the day. Micah Parsons had his sixth multi-sack game of the season, while Dorance Armstrong tied his career record with eight sacks. Leighton Vander Esch had eight tackles.
The Cowboys stopped Saquon Barkley to 39 yards and allowed the Giants to convert just 27% of their third-down chances. Dallas controlled possession time again, 34:09 to 25:51.
1Q
On their second drive, the Giants kicked a 57-yard field goal. New York had terrific field position when the Cowboys failed on a fourth-and-2 at their own 40. An apparent score was called back owing to an unauthorised man downfield penalty, giving Dallas a break. The visitors then kicked a field goal.
Prescott’s interception was caused by offensive disarray, but a three-and-out and punt put the Cowboys back in business at their own 7-yard line. This time, Dallas’ offensive clicked. Gallup caught three passes for 24 yards, and Prescott threw a 25-yard dart to Lamb to put the Cowboys on the Giants’ 6-yard line.
2Q
They needed one more snap to score. Elliott scored his eighth running touchdown of the season on an 11-play, 93-yard drive. Elliott tied Dez Bryant for fourth in Cowboys history with 75 career touchdowns.
The Giants responded by driving 75 yards in nine plays to score. Darius Slayton’s 44-yard catch at the Cowboys’ 1-yard line was the key play. Barkley scored two plays later to put New York up 10-7.
Another catastrophe struck. Prescott threw an interception before halftime for the third time in four games. Darnay Holmes tipped the ball and Julian Love intercepted it, giving the Giants the ball at their own 27-yard line with 1:50 remaining in the game.
Dallas’ Donovan Wilson intercepted a Daniel Jones pass, but Trevon Diggs’ unlawful contact negated the turnover. The Giants then reached the Cowboys’ 29-yard line. New York led 13-7 at halftime after Graham Gano’s 47-yard field goal.
3Q
The Cowboys needed to make a statement after a bad first half. They marched 75 yards in 14 plays, taking 7:39. Nine of those plays were on the ground, but Prescott threw a 15-yard touchdown ball to Schultz.
As the Cowboys did in the first quarter, the Giants went for it in the third. Fourth-and-1 at his own 45-yard line, Jones’ ball to Barkley was incomplete.
Dallas scored on New York’s gift. Schultz scored again on a 6-yard run. Lamb stole the show. The star wideout made a 21-yard one-handed grab despite being interfered with to give Dallas first-and-goal.
Q4
Next, the Cowboys scored their third straight second-half touchdown. Rookie tight ends highlighted a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Jake Ferguson took a short ball and hurdled a defender for 30 yards. Peyton Hendershot took a handoff and ran two yards for the score.
Schultz, Ferguson, and Sean McKeon jumped into the Red Kettle as Hendershot played whack-a-mole.
Then it was time to count down the clock and eat Thanksgiving leftovers. Brett Mahar missed a 46-yard field goal. The Giants added another score, but it was too late.The Cowboys have secured second place in the division and are still chasing the Eagles.
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