Cowboys rip error-prone Giants for worst shutout loss in the series between NFC East rivals

Associated Press
Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 11:30 p.m. | Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 11:30 p.m.

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Dallas Cowboys’ DaRon Bland reacts as he scores after intercepting the pass intended for New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley during the first half in East Rutherford, N.J.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Dallas Cowboys’ DaRon Bland, left, intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons (11), top, tackles New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Dallas Cowboys’ Stephon Gilmore (21) celebrates an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal 58 yards for a touchdown on the opening series, DaRon Bland scored on a pick-6 later in the first quarter and the Dallas Cowboys embarrassed the New York Giants again, posting a season-opening 40-0 victory Sunday night.

Tony Pollard scored on two short touchdown runs and Dallas forced three turnovers and sacked Daniel Jones seven times in shutting down New York’s supposedly improved offense and beating the Giants for the fifth straight time and 12th in 13th meetings.

The shutout loss was the largest between the teams, topping the Cowboys’ 35-0 win over the Giants in 1995, also in a season-opener in the Meadowlands. It was also the Cowboys’ biggest season-opening shutout, topping their 38-0 win over the Baltimore Colts in 1978.

The Cowboys are the 5th team in NFL History to open their season with a shutout of 40+ points on the road.

The last team to do this was the Steelers in 1999 at the Browns. pic.twitter.com/ymoT5sm2qa

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 11, 2023

This was supposed to be the game that showed whether the Giants had closed the gap on Dallas and defending NFC champion Philadelphia in the NFC East.

Enough said.

The Cowboys didn’t need much from quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense. They got two field goals from new kicker Brandon Aubrey and Pollard got Dallas’ first TD on offense on a 2-yard run midway through the second quarter to push the advantage to 26-0 at halftime.

The halftime shutout margin was the fourth-most lopsided in Week 1 for a home team, topped only by the Bucs trailing the Eagles 34-0 in 1988. The others were the Steelers (down 30-0 vs. the Browns) in 1989 and the Colts (27-0 vs. the Rams) in 1954.