East Rutherford, N.J.— The New York Giants closed out a difficult season with a meaningful moment that went beyond the final score.
Following a 34–17 victory over rival Dallas on Sunday, Giants owner John Mara was presented with the game ball in an emotional locker room celebration. The win came as Mara continues cancer treatment, which began three months ago, and provided a poignant ending to a season filled with challenges.
Tight end Daniel Bellinger, who caught a 29-yard touchdown pass, said Mara has drawn admiration from throughout the organization. According to Bellinger, Mara shared that he now jogs to his treatments, a testament to his resilience. Players described him as the toughest person in the room and a leader they deeply respect.
On the field, the win lifted the Giants to 4–13 and gave them back-to-back victories to close the year. The result, combined with other games around the league, knocked New York out of contention for a top-two draft pick and locked Las Vegas into the No. 1 spot. While some fans were conflicted about the late-season surge, the performance of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart continued to fuel optimism about the franchise’s direction.
Veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton praised Dart’s long-term potential, saying the young quarterback has the talent and mindset any future coaching staff should want to build around. Dart echoed that sentiment with his play, prioritizing winning over draft position in his 12th career start.
Dart completed 22 of 32 passes for 231 yards and threw two touchdowns—his 14th and 15th as a pro—connecting with Bellinger and Tyrone Tracy. Despite dealing with multiple injuries and illnesses, the Giants treated the finale like a standard regular-season game, keeping their starters on the field throughout.
Dallas, by contrast, approached the matchup more cautiously. Quarterback Dak Prescott played only the first half, completing seven of 11 passes for 70 yards and losing a fumble on a botched snap before giving way to Joe Milton after halftime. Prescott finished the season with 4,552 passing yards, the second-highest total of his career.
The Cowboys fell to 7–9–1 and lost to New York for the first time since the 2020 season finale, snapping a nine-game losing streak in the rivalry. Prescott had previously won 14 straight starts against the Giants. Dallas again struggled defensively, allowing more than 30 points, adding to the scrutiny surrounding defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah each scored their first NFL rushing touchdowns for Dallas. However, head coach Brian Schottenheimer pointed to third-down struggles and explosive plays allowed on the ground as key issues.
The rivalry turned heated early in the third quarter following Dart’s touchdown pass to Tracy. A confrontation between linemen escalated when Dallas edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku ripped off the helmet of Giants guard Greg Van Roten, resulting in Ezeiruaku’s ejection. New York capitalized by converting the ensuing two-point attempt, giving kicker Ben Sauls a rest during a perfect four-for-four field goal performance.
**Injuries**
* **Cowboys:** Safety Markquese Bell exited before halftime with a concussion. Safety Alijah Clark was a late scratch for personal reasons.
* **Giants:** Linebacker Darius Muasau left in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Cornerback Rico Payton was evaluated for a concussion.
**Up Next**
* **Cowboys:** Schottenheimer is expected to return for a second season, though changes among the assistant coaches, including Eberflus, remain possible.
* **Giants:** New York is expected to begin a coaching search, with uncertainty surrounding whether general manager Joe Schoen will oversee the process.
