Inside The Star
The last time these two teams met, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants put on an offensive show.
It was especially offensive if you are a fan of defensive football.
As it was, the Cowboys made Russell Wilson look 10 years younger. It took a 64-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey just to get the game into overtime.
Aubrey’s 46-yard field goal as time expired prevented a tie game in a 40-37 win by the Cowboys.
The way the 2025 season played out, maybe it would have been fitting to have the franchise’s first-ever two-tie season.
Neither team has much to play for overall. Dallas is trying to avoid a second-straight losing season for the first time since 2002.
Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, the Cowboys can claim to have improved over last year’s 7-10 finish.
It’s just a matter of it being by a half-game, or a game-and-a-half.
The Cowboys are 78-47-2 all-time against New York. They are a solid 35-26-1 when playing at New York.
Dallas has won 10 of the last 14 games played on the Giants’ home turf.
Last year, Dallas escaped New York with a 20-15 victory that left Snake Plisskin impressed.
And there’s your first obscure 1980s movie reference of the new year.
Dallas has only played a Week 18 contest a total of five times. The first came in 1993, when Emmitt Smith carried Dallas to the NFC East title and the NFC’s top playoff seed at New York.
Since the league added an 18th week on a full-time basis, Dallas has beaten the Eagles (2021) and then played the Commanders in the season finale the last three years.
Washington won in 2022 and 2024, with the Cowboys winning in 2023.
That gives Dallas a 3-2 overall record and 3-1 on the road.
Prior to the season-opening game in Philadelphia, I had Dallas on track for a 6-11 season. At the midway point, they were right on track.
A three-game streak gave us all false hope.
I had Washington winning the East at 12-5.
Injuries imploded that team. An Eagles’ loss on Sunday to the Commanders would end their season at 11-6.
Which was the record I had them finishing second with.
An Eagles’ win, and a 12-5 record to win the division, would mean I got the division-winning record right, if not the team.
As for the Giants, well, what more needs be said?
When it comes to today’s game, it’s hard to tell what kind of game we will get. At best, both teams just want to get out of it without any major injuries that carry over to the next season.
Dallas should still walk away with the win.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Giants 19
