EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — As the 2026 NFL season neared, the Dallas Cowboys became a trendy Super Bowl pick – or at least considered capable of reaching their first NFC title game since the 1995 campaign.
What wasn't to like? That high-powered offense led by Dak Prescott, flanked by two stud receivers and anchored by a solid offensive line was back. The defense, with a new coordinator, a high-flying rookie safety and other veteran pieces had to improve from the disaster that it was under Matt Eberflus in 2025. Brian Schottenheimer looked comfortable in his first season and surely would have his team ready to start Year 2.
Maybe we ought to pump the brakes on "Big D" being back in the "Big Game."
Dallas fell to the New York Giants, 28-20, in a game
that was more lopsided than the final score indicated.
Dallas scored on both of its second-half possessions, but therein lied the problem. The Giants dominated nearly all facets of the game and outgained Dallas 394-244. They possessed the ball for 36 minutes and 40 seconds compared to the Cowboys' 23 minutes and 20 seconds.
"They were the more physical team. That's certainly not our standard. That's certainly not how we see our identity. They shoved us around in the running game," Schottenheimer said.
He added: "This is a humbling business. And we got humbled tonight."
Expectations are grand for the Cowboys each season. This loss was particularly disappointing, Schottenheimer said, because of the way his team played – not necessarily the high hopes for 2026.
"Right now, this one feels pretty bad," Schottenheimer said. "Because once again, we just didn't play to how we're capable of playing."
Prescott's major faux pas came with 1:01 until halftime, when he lobbed an interception to Jevon Holland, who made a sliding catch along the sideline on a pass the Cowboys quarterback was trying to throw out of bounds.
"One I want obviously ... that was the game right there," said Prescott, who added the team had "some self-inflicted wounds."
According to Next Gen Stats, only two of Dallas' 20 four-man rushes generated pressure. It turns out Rashan Gary is not Micah Parsons. And Von Miller isn't going to turn the clock back a decade. Based on Expected Points Added (EPA) per drive, according to The Ringer, the Cowboys had the worst defensive showing of any team in Week 1. Mind you, the Carolina Panthers gave up 59 points to the Chicago Bears. That mark was worse than all but one of their games last year and ranked 571st of 574 games dating back to the start of last season.
The conventional wisdom in league circles dictated that, should the Cowboys' defense become a middle-tier unit, the ceiling for the entire team could mean a late-January run. But this team has problems to address in September before it can dream of the playoffs. George Pickens dropped a pair of passes in the first half and wasn't a factor in the passing game. Running back Javonte Williams scored to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter and squandered the moment by drawing an unnecessary flag for taunting. The ever-trustworthy Brandon Aubrey missed the ensuing point-after attempt, albeit from 48 yards due to the penalty.
Schottenheimer didn't want to use the Cowboys' young players on defense as a shield or an excuse, but it was a factor, he said.
"As a football team, we were pretty poor," Schottenheimer said.
The defense has a chance to make amends Week 2 at home against the Washington Commanders. Whether that will put them on a trajectory to Los Angeles for Super Bowl 61? That answer has likely already revealed itself.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Not our standard': Cowboys have long way to reach Super Bowl expectations
