AT A GLANCE

After holding a halftime lead, the New York Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 in their 16th Thanksgiving game. The Giants (7-4), who allowed 21 unanswered points in the second half until a late touchdown, have lost consecutive games for the first time this year and were swept in the season series with Dallas (8-3).

UP NEXT

The Giants return home to host the surging Washington Commanders in their second of four consecutive NFC East games. The Commanders (6-5) have won five of their last six games heading into their Sunday home game against the Atlanta Falcons (5-6).

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

*The Giants played without four injured offensive linemen who have started games this season: rookie right tackle Evan Neal (knee/illness), center Jon Feliciano (neck), and guards Shane Lemieux (toe) and Joshua Ezeudu (neck). The starting lineup on Thursday, from left to right, was Andrew Thomas, Jack Anderson, Nick Gates, Mark Glowinski, and Tyre Phillips.

*Darius Slayton continued his resurgence and made one of the best catches of his career, leaping over cornerback Anthony Brown for a 44-yard gain near the goal line. It set up a Saquon Barkley touchdown run, which gave the Giants a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

*The Giants struggled on the ground for the second game in a row. Barkley was held to 39 yards on 11 carries (long of 10 yards), a week after having a season-low 22 yards on 15 attempts.

*Against the No. 1 defense in scoring and passing, Daniel Jones completed 21 of 35 passes for 228 yards, including a one-yard touchdown to Richie James with eight seconds left in the game. Micah Parsons recorded his fifth game of the season with two sacks; the NFL record is eight by Reggie White with the Eagles in 1987.

*The Giants converted just three of 11 third downs and were unsuccessful on two attempts on fourth down.

*Rookie wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, the Giants' second-round draft choice last spring, was placed on injured reserve this week. He suffered a torn ACL during the game of his brief career, catching nine passes for an even 100 yards vs. Detroit.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

*Injuries also hit the defense last week, causing starting cornerbacks Adoree' Jackson (knee) and Fabian Moreau (oblique) to miss Thursday's game.

*As one of the next men up, second-year cornerback Rodarius Williams grabbed his first career interception off Dak Prescott in the first quarter. It was just the seventh game played for the 2021 sixth-round draft pick.

*Safety Julian Love intercepted Prescott a second time off a tipped ball late in the second quarter, leading to a field goal and six-point lead at halftime.

*Last week, the Giants lost the turnover differential 3-0. This week, they were 2-0. The Giants had just two interceptions heading into Week 12.

*Former Cowboy Jaylon Smith stuffed Ezekiel Elliott when the Cowboys elected to go for it on fourth-and-short from their 40-yard line on their first possession. Smith went on to lead the team with 10 tackles (seven solo).

*Three of the Cowboys' four touchdowns were scored by tight ends. Dalton Schultz caught two before Peyton Hendershot ran another in from two yards out to give Dallas a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Elliott was the non-tight end to score as the Cowboys ran for 169 yards on 39 carries.

*Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux had five quarterback hits, but the Giants failed to register a sack.

*The Giants allowed 21 of the Cowboys' 28 points in the second half.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

*A week after he missed an extra point and had another blocked while dealing with an illness, Graham Gano scored the first points of the game with a 57-yard field goal, tied for the longest in franchise history. Aldrick Rosas made one from the same distance in Week 13 of the 2018 season vs. Chicago. Gano also made his other attempt from 47 yards.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: CB Cor'Dale Flott (concussion)

INACTIVES

NYG: CB Adoree' Jackson, CB Fabian Moreau, G Shane Lemieux, T Evan Neal, G Joshua Ezeudu, C Jon Feliciano, TE Daniel Bellinger

DAL: CB Kelvin Joseph, QB Will Grier, S Markquese Bell, OLB Anthony Barr, DE Tarell Basham, NT Johnathan Hankins, DE Takkarist McKinley