The Dallas Cowboys rolled into MetLife Stadium on Sunday, January 4, 2026, for a high-stakes Week 18 showdown against the New York Giants, with everything on the line for their playoff hopes. The stakes couldn’t have been clearer: a win would keep Dallas’s postseason dreams alive, while the Giants, already eliminated from contention, were eager to play spoiler and get a last look at their young core.
Kickoff was set for 1 p.m. ET, with fans tuning in across the country via FOX and streaming platforms like NFL+ and FOXSports.com. The energy in East Rutherford crackled with anticipation, as the Cowboys—sporting a 7-8-1 record—looked to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the early 2000s. Meanwhile, the 3-13 Giants were eyeing the future, hoping to evaluate rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and breakout running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in a game that could shape their offseason plans.
All eyes were on Dak Prescott, who entered the regular season finale as the NFL’s passing yards leader with a staggering 4,482 yards, a 67.4% completion rate, 30 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. Prescott’s connection with CeeDee Lamb had been electric all season, and oddsmakers projected Lamb to eclipse 85.5 receiving yards against a porous Giants secondary. As for the ground game, Tyrone Tracy Jr. was pegged for a breakout, with expectations of surpassing 55.5 rushing yards against a Cowboys defense that had struggled mightily against the run in recent weeks.
Dallas came in as a 3.5-point favorite, and the betting world was abuzz with predictions of a high-scoring affair. The over/under hovered around 51.5 points, a nod to both teams’ defensive woes—Dallas had the league’s worst scoring defense, allowing 29.8 points per game, while the Giants were giving up 364.1 total yards per contest, fourth-worst in the NFL. No wonder experts were circling this one as a potential shootout!
Historically, the rivalry has been one-sided of late. The Cowboys had dominated the Giants, winning 13 of the previous 15 meetings, including each of the last five. In those recent matchups, Dallas had outscored New York 176 to 89, a testament to the lopsided nature of this NFC East battle. Still, with the Giants desperate to end the season on a high note and perhaps improve their draft position, motivation wasn’t lacking on either sideline.
For Dallas, the formula was simple: lean on the league’s best passing attack and hope the defense could hold up just enough. Prescott’s arsenal included not only Lamb—who had racked up 74 catches for 1,073 yards and three touchdowns—but also George Pickens, who posted 92 catches for 1,420 yards and nine scores. The Cowboys’ offense ranked third in points per game (28.4) and first in passing yards per game (274), but their Achilles’ heel remained a leaky defense, especially against the pass and the run.
“We know what’s at stake,” Prescott said earlier in the week, according to FOX Sports. “There’s no tomorrow unless we handle business today. Every guy in this locker room is ready to leave it all on the field.”
On the other side, the Giants were treating the finale as a proving ground. Rookie Jaxson Dart, who’d thrown for 2,042 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games, was looking to solidify his place as the team’s quarterback of the future. Tracy Jr., the rookie running back, had amassed 637 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 14 games, averaging 45.5 yards per contest. Tight end Theo Johnson also emerged as a reliable target, hauling in 45 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll (whose job status has been a topic of speculation all season) emphasized the importance of evaluation and effort: “We want to see our young players compete, grow, and finish strong. That’s the message—play hard, play smart, and give the fans something to cheer about.”
Despite their struggles, the Giants’ offense ranked sixth in rushing yards per game (127.1), with Tracy Jr. providing a spark behind a patchwork offensive line. Defensively, though, New York had allowed 145.4 rushing yards per game—third-worst in the league—and their pass defense ranked just 20th. The Cowboys seemed primed to exploit these weaknesses, especially with Prescott’s penchant for airing it out in big moments.
Betting analysts were nearly unanimous in their outlook. As The Arizona Republic put it: “The Giants offense won’t be able to keep up with the Cowboys in this game in a matchup of NFC East teams that had very disappointing seasons.” Sports Betting Dime’s predictive formula gave Dallas a 33.8–26.7 edge, while other outlets pegged the final margin anywhere from four to ten points in favor of the visitors. Still, ESPN’s Football Power Index gave the Giants a 51.5% chance to pull the upset, underscoring just how unpredictable late-season divisional games can be.
Fans looking to catch every snap didn’t have to look far. The game was broadcast nationally on FOX, with streaming options available via NFL+, FOXSports.com, and the FOX Sports App. The NFL’s final regular season Sunday always brings drama, and this clash—while lacking playoff implications for the Giants—was loaded with storylines: Dallas’s playoff desperation, New York’s youth movement, and the ever-present intrigue of a storied rivalry.
As the first quarter unfolded, the Cowboys leaned heavily on Prescott and Lamb, attacking the Giants’ secondary with quick strikes and deep shots alike. Tracy Jr. responded for the Giants, breaking off several impressive runs as New York tried to control the tempo and keep Dallas’s offense off the field. The pace was frenetic, the stakes evident on every snap, and both teams played with the urgency of a season on the brink.
By halftime, the scoreboard reflected the offensive fireworks many had predicted, with both teams trading blows and neither defense able to seize full control. Prescott continued to pile up passing yards, inching closer to the 4,500 mark, while Lamb racked up catches in bunches. The Giants, for their part, showcased flashes of promise, with Dart making smart throws and Tracy Jr. grinding out tough yards against a worn-down Dallas front.
With the game still in progress, fans remained glued to their screens, knowing that every drive could shift the playoff picture—or, for the Giants, the draft order. Would Dallas’s high-powered offense carry them to the postseason, or could New York’s young guns spoil the party and set the tone for 2026?
As the action continues at MetLife Stadium, one thing’s for sure: the NFL’s regular season finale rarely disappoints, and this Cowboys-Giants clash is delivering all the drama fans could hope for.