When the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 34-17, to close out the 2025 season, it was only their second victory over their heated division rivals in the last 18 meetings dating back to 2017.
Sure, it was a meaningless game. Both teams had been eliminated from postseason contention and were playing out the string. The Cowboys pulled the majority of their starters by halftime, and the Giants had been playing on fumes for the final two months of the season thanks to injuries.
But one couldn't miss the obvious. Maybe the Giants and Cowboys are leveling out talent-wise. Perhaps it's the Giants' turn to dominate again in this series.
From Ryan Dunleavy of The New York Post:
The Giants’ time to return years of punishment and push around the
Cowboys on both sides of the line of scrimmage might finally be here.
“Now is the time to win,” edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, the longest-tenured Giants defensive player, told The Post. “The game is definitely won up front. This is the year to do it.”
The days of the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons — off to the Seahawks and Packers, respectively — running through blocks and taunting unprotected Eli Manning and Daniel Jones are over. The retired combination of Zack Martin and Tyron Smith no longer form a brick wall in front of Dak Prescott — and now All-Pro guard Tyler Smith is on the shelf, too.
For the first time in a decade, the Giants — with four returning starters and a highly regarded rookie on the offensive line, and the second-highest-paid group of edge rushers in the NFL — could have an upper hand in the trenches against the Cowboys in Sunday’s season opener.
The Giants have been amassing talent over the past few seasons, through the draft, free agency, and trades. Dallas has been modifying their roster as well, but with more minor splashes. As things stand right now, it's become more of an even fight as we enter the 2026 regular season.
But as all fights go, it's how tough you are up front in the trenches that counts. The Giants believe they have the advantage there now.
“Every game that we’ve played them in my two years here, we’ve done exactly what we could on the offensive line,” right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. “I think we will control the game up front. They have a great D-line, but I’m confident in my guys. We’re going to go out there and be physical as (expletive).”
“Our offense is built for the trenches, so we’re going to make a statement,” center John Michael Schmitz Jr. said. “In our eyes, we are playing to be the best O-line there is.”
Tom Coughlin always said that "big people help you compete." He was right then, and he's right now. The Giants are finally realizing that after nearly 12 years of getting bullied.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Sunday's opener may mark a shift in the Giants-Cowboys rivalry
