The New York Giants hosted the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in the final game of Week 3 on Monday Night Football.
Saquon Barkley finished with 124 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough as the Giants fell to their division rival, 23-16, leaving them 2-1 heading into next week's home game against the Bears.
Here are five things we learned Monday night.
1. Giants lose first game of season
Monday's loss was the first of the season for the Giants after they defeated the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers in the first two games. The loss dropped the Giants to 2-1 heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium, the final game in the team's three-week homestand.
It was the team's first divisional matchup of the season, with the next game against the NFC East coming on Thanksgiving Day when the Giants travel to Dallas for the rematch.
View photos from the Giants' Week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) tries to avoid a tackle by Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (6) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (82) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (3) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tripped up by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (3) with Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) in pursuit during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tripped up by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (3) with Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) in pursuit during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) in action during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) runs a route during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) runs the ball for a first down against Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Richie James (80) during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) avoids a tackle by Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) beats Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) to the goal line for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates with guard Jon Feliciano (76) and fullback Chris Myarick (85) after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
2. Run game continues to roll
The Giants' run game continued to roll in Week 3. The team rushed for a total of 167 yards on 25 carries against the Cowboys, good for an average of 6.7 yards per carry. Saquon Barkley led the way with 14 rush attempts for 81 yards, an average of 5.8 yards per attempt, and broke a 36-yard touchdown run to give the Giants the lead in the third quarter. Barkley also added four receptions for 45 yards.
Right behind Barkley was Daniel Jones. The fourth-year quarterback gained 79 yards on just nine carries, finishing with an average of 8.8 yards per carry. Wide receiver Richie James added one rush for four yards, while running back Matt Breida gained three yards on his one carry.
3. Cowboys' pass rush hits home
The Giants struggled to slow down the pass rush on Monday. Jones was hit 12 times and sacked five times, including three from defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence now has 10 sacks in 14 career games against the Giants. The other two sacks came from defensive end Dorance Armstrong and safety Donovan Wilson.
Jones has now been sacked 13 times in three games. Jones completed 20 of 37 passes for 196 yards and an interception, a play in which David Sills slipped on his route.
4. Thibodeaux, Ojulari make debut
Outside linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee) and Azeez Ojulari (calf) were questionable for Week 3 after missing the first two games, but both were active and made their debuts against the Cowboys.
In his first career game, the No. 5 overall pick finished with one solo tackle and a pass breakup. Ojulari set the franchise rookie record with eight sacks last season, and in his first game of 2022, he recorded one tackle. The 2021 second-round pick forced several penalties on the Cowboys offense.
Daboll said after the game that both pass rushers were on a pitch count going into the contest.
5. Shepard goes down with injury
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard went down with 1:11 remaining in the game. The longest-tenured player on the team, Shepard caught a team-high five receptions for 49 yards before he was carted off the field.
"You hurt for those guys… It's a shame," Brian Daboll told the media after the game. "I just feel terrible for the guy."
"It's just real tough," said Jones. "Real tough to see that, for sure. A guy who works so hard, he's battling back from an injury last year. I feel for him as a teammate, as a close friend and yeah, that's tough to see."
The Giants ruled out four players on Saturday – CB Justin Layne (concussion), CB Nick McCloud (hamstring), CB Aaron Robinson (appendix) and WR Wan'Dale Robinson (knee). DL Leonard Williams (knee) and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) were listed as doubtful, and both were also inactive for Monday's game.
View photos of the Giants commemorating the 2022 Ring of Honor class during halftime of the Week 3 matchup against the Cowboys.
Limited tickets available for Giants vs. Bears on October 2
