AT A GLANCE: The New York Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys, 23-16, for their first defeat of the season. The 2-1 Giants were seeking their first 3-0 start since 2009.
UP NEXT: The Giants wrap up their three-game homestand with a visit from the Chicago Bears, who improved to 2-1 with a 23-20 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 3. It will be the first of two "Legacy Games" in which the Giants will wear their classic blue uniforms inspired by the teams from the 80s and 90s.
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)
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
*Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson (knee) and Kadarius Toney (hamstring) were inactive for Week 3.
*Needing second-half comebacks in their 2-0 start, the Giants emphasized starting faster this week but were unable to do so on Monday night. The Giants scored just three points against the Cowboys and have now been outscored 25-9 in the first half this season.
*Daniel Jones completed 20 of 37 passes for 196 yards and was intercepted by Trevon Diggs after David Sills slipped on a route with 1:11 remaining in the game. Jones was sacked five times, including three by DeMarcus Lawrence. Jones has been sacked 13 times in three games.
*Saquon Barkley broke the stalemate in the third quarter with the first touchdown of the game on a 36-yard run, giving the Giants a 13-6 lead. Barkley finished with 81 rushing yards on 14 attempts and now has 317 yards on the season, second in the NFL only to Cleveland's Nick Chubb through three weeks.
*Wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who led the team with five catches for 49 yards on Monday, suffered an injury on the same play Jones threw his interception and was carted off the field.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
*Kayvon Thibodeaux, the fifth overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, and fellow edge rusher Azeez Ojulari made their much-anticipated season debuts. Neither played in the team's victories against Tennessee and Carolina, Thibodeaux because of a knee injury he suffered in a preseason game on Aug. 21 and Ojulari with a calf injury sustained in practice four days later. Both were listed as questionable on Saturday's final injury report, which ruled out three cornerbacks: Justin Layne (concussion), Nick McCloud (hamstring), and Aaron Robinson (appendix).
*Thibodeaux recorded one tackle and broke up a pass in his NFL debut.
*Defensive lineman and captain Leonard Williams (knee) did not play after being listed as doubtful. Williams had never missed a game in high school, college or the NFL, where he had played in 114 straight, starting 106.
*Leading up to the game, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said the Cowboys have two Pro Bowl-caliber running backs in Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. The two-pronged attack gained 126 yards on 14 carries (9.0 yards per carry) in the first half alone, including a 46-yarder by Pollard. They finished with 176 yards for the game after the Giants allowed 239 in the first two weeks combined.
*The defense didn't break in the first half and held Dallas to field goals in two trips to the red zone. In the second half, however, Elliott broke through with a one-yard touchdown run to tie the game 13-13 after Barkley's score.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS
*Defensive end Dorance Armstrong blocked Graham Gano's first attempt from 47 yards midway through the first quarter. Gano, the reigning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week who made a pair of clutch 50-yarders in the team's victory over the Panthers, made his next three attempts from 42 yards and twice from 51. In the process, he extended his franchise record to 16 field goals made from 50 yards or more.
*The Giants allowed a 28-yard punt return by KaVontae Turpin midway through the fourth quarter, setting up a Cowboys field goal that extended their lead to two possessions.
IN-GAME INJURY REPORT
DAL: DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), WR Simi Fehoko (shoulder)
INACTIVES
NYG: WR Wan'Dale Robinson (knee), CB Aaron Robinson (appendix), CB Justin Layne (concussion), CB Nick McCloud (hamstring), WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring), DL Leonard Williams (knee), LB Tomon Fox
DAL: QB Dak Prescott (right thumb), WR Michael Gallup (knee), CB Nahshon Wright, FS Jayron Kearse (knee), OLB Luke Gifford (hamstring), G Connor McGovern (ankle), TE Dalton Schultz (knee)
Limited tickets available for Giants vs. Bears on October 2
