Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Admits Giants Played Better Than Expected in Upset Loss

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged that the New York Giants surpassed his expectations in their 28-20 season-opening victory over his team. In a candid interview on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Jones offered an unusual level of praise for a division rival.

"And I will tell you, they were better than we thought they were," Jones stated. "I’m anxious to see how New York continues to play, but I really — combination of things. We didn’t play as well as we should play and can, but they played better than I thought they could."

The Giants secured their first season-opening win since 2022, outperforming a Cowboys offense that features quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

New York’s success was fueled by a strong performance from quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo. Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, including two to offseason addition Isaiah Likely. Skattebo, returning from an ankle injury, rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

The Giants' offensive line also performed well, paving the way for 165 rushing yards and averaging 5.8 yards per play against a Cowboys defense that Jones had previously praised.

Jones attributed the Cowboys' performance to the team's adjustment to new coaches and schemes. The Giants, meanwhile, achieved success with a new head coach and an offense coordinated by Matt Nagy.

The Giants are preparing to face the Los Angeles Rams next, aiming to demonstrate that their Week 1 performance was not an anomaly. The Cowboys will look to rebound at home against the Washington Commanders.