Recent years have been full of disappointment and heartbreak for the Dallas Cowboys, but they appear ready to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season.
In the 2023 NFL season’s Sunday Night Football opener, the Cowboys went on the road and took down the division-rival New York Giants 40-0.
It was a stunning beatdown from the Cowboys vs a Giants team that won a road playoff game in January.
The first touchdown of the game summarized how the night would go for both teams. A field-goal attempt from Giants kicker Graham Gano turned into a Cowboys touchdown in the first quarter.
The game felt well out of hand before halftime. Dallas took a 26-0 lead with 8:03 remaining in the second quarter.
This is a nightmare for the Giants.
The Cowboys take a 26-0 lead with 8:03 to go in the second quarter.
#SNF pic.twitter.com/2TfBewoLS7 — The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 11, 2023
Many backups entered the game shortly into the fourth quarter — such as Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush for starter Dak Prescott — with the score 40-0.
NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth said in the fourth quarter, “This is wild. I mean, just wild. [The Cowboys] are just DESTROYING the Giants. DESTROYING them. I mean, some of these hits tonight have been extraordinary.”
It’s the largest shutout in Dallas franchise history.
To go with the shutout, the Cowboys’ defense had seven sacks on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, two interceptions, one pick-six, one blocked field goal for a touchdown, and five forced fumbles. The NFL official Twitter account called it an “all-time performance” by the Dallas defense, and it’s hard to argue with that.
ESPN notes that the Cowboys are the first NFL team in the last 24 years to open the season with a road shutout featuring at least 40 points scored.
The Cowboys will host another New York team in Week 2 when Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets go to Dallas.