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10 Things To Watch For

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10 things to watch in Giants vs. Cowboys

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SEASON FINALE

The Giants wrap up the 2025 season with a divisional matchup against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium and a chance to win back-to-back games. They put up a strong performance in Las Vegas, one that saw them take an early lead and control the game with a wire-to-wire win. Now they will try to make it two games in a row this weekend with their NFC East rival coming to town.

"It'd be big for us," quarterback Jaxson Dart said about closing out the season with a win. "Not only just for us, this team this year, we have one more opportunity to go out there and play as brothers and compete against a division team, a division rival. It's going to be huge for us. Then at the same time continue to carry momentum."

Dart added: "This is a huge division game. That obviously matters to me a ton and I'm excited to go out there and compete against them for sure."

ALL-TIME SERIES

The New York Giants (3-13) will host the Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) on Sunday, January 4. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm ET on FOX.

Sunday's game marks the 128th all-time meeting between the teams. This will also be the sixth time the teams will meet in January of the regular season.

In their most recent matchup, the Giants were defeated by the Cowboys in overtime, 40-37, on a 46-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 18 season finale against the Cowboys.

INJURY REPORT

Giants

Out: CB Cor'Dale Flott (Knee), S Jevón Holland (Knee/Concussion), TE Theo Johnson (Illness), OL Evan Neal (Neck), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (Ankle/Toe), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (Rib)

Questionable: WR Jalin Hyatt (Illness)

Cowboys

Out: G T.J. Bass (Knee), RB Malik Davis (Calf/Eye), LB DeMarvion Overshown (Concussion), CB Shavon Revel (Concussion/Neck), RB Javonte Williams (Shoulder/Neck)

Questionable: CB Josh Butler (Knee), RB Phil Mafah (Shoulder), DE Payton Turner (Ribs)

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN & STREAM

TV

Channel: FOX

Announcers: Kevin Kugler (Play-By-Play), Daryl Johnston (Analyst), Allison Williams (Sideline)

Postgame: Giants Postgame Live presented by Hackensack Meridian Health, MSG Networks, The Gotham Sports App, YouTube, Giants.com, Giants App, Giants TV

Radio

Channel: WFAN 101.9PM / 66 AM

Announcers: Bob Papa (Play-by-Play), Carl Banks (Analyst), Howard Cross (Sideline)

Pre- and Postgame: John Schmeelk, Tiki Barber

Pregame: Giants Gameday begins at 11:00 AM, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

Postgame: Giants Extra Point

Stream

This week's game can be streamed on NFL+.

CLOSING OUT ROOKIE CAMPAIGNS

One of the biggest things to keep an eye on Sunday is how members of the rookie class close out their first NFL season. Quarterback Jaxson Dart and outside linebacker Abdul Carter are both coming off strong outings in Las Vegas. Dart completed a season-high 73.3 percent of his passes for 207 yards while adding 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. It marked his eighth game with a 90+ passer rating and the ninth time he's accounted for multiple touchdowns in his 11 starts. Meanwhile, Carter picked up a half-sack, two tackles for loss and four quarterback hits against the Raiders. The No. 3 overall pick has now contributed to a sack in four consecutive outings, the most consecutive games by a Giants rookie since 1982.

Dart's nine rushing touchdowns have already set a new franchise quarterback record and rank third all-time in NFL history among rookie quarterbacks. His 22 total touchdowns this season trail only Charlie Conerly (27) and Daniel Jones (26) for the most total touchdowns in Giants history by a rookie quarterback with one game remaining. As for Carter, his 22 quarterback hits this season are the most by a Giants rookie and tied for the seventh-most by any rookie since 2006. Additionally, his 44 quick pressures currently lead the NFL and are the 12th-most by any player in a season since 2019, according to Next Gen Stats.

But Dart and Carter are not the only two Giants rookies looking to end their seasons on a high note. Offensive tackle Marcus Mbow filled in for Andrew Thomas at left tackle last week, and while it wasn't a perfect performance, Mbow did show some encouraging signs, especially in the run game. Mbow kicked outside and was the lead blocker and Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s 23-yard run, his biggest gain of the day. Defensive lineman Darius Alexander also picked up a sack and three total pressures against the Raiders. It marked his second game in the last five weeks with three pressures. Alexander has also picked up all three of his sacks during that same span, with his 3.5 sacks on the season ranking sixth among all rookies.

AIMING FOR MILESTONES

Outside linebacker Brian Burns made the Pro Bowl last week for the third time in his career and the first with the Giants. With an NFC-leading 16.5 sacks, which trails only Cleveland's Myles Garrett, this was a well-deserved honor for the veteran edge rusher. Burns is tied with Jason Pierre-Paul for the fourth-most sacks in a single season by a Giant, and if he can get two more on Sunday, he would tie Michael Strahan for the third-most. Burns' 30 quarterback hits are tied with Leonard Williams (2020) for the most by any Giant since the stat began being tracked in 2006.

Linebacker Bobby Okereke's 137 total tackles this season are the fifth-most by a Giant in franchise history. If he can total 15 tackles against the Cowboys on Sunday, Okereke would set the new franchise single-season record with 152. Finally, Carter (4.5) and defensive lineman Darius Alexander (3.5) both rank inside the top six among rookies in sacks this season, and can climb up the rankings with strong performances on Sunday. Jaxson Dart needs one more rushing touchdown to join Cam Newton as the only rookies with 10+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns.

PLAYER TO WATCH

OLB Brian Burns – Since we already discussed the rookies, let's focus on one of the veterans here. Burns has already put together the best season of his NFL career with new personal high marks in sacks (16.5), tackles for loss (21), and quarterback hits (30), which led to him making his third Pro Bowl. Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele has allowed 14 total pressures over his last four games, and has 10 games with 3+ pressures allowed this season. Burns had a sack and two tackles for loss in the first matchup against the Cowboys back in Week 2.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

C Austin Schlottmann vs. DT Quinnen Williams – Williams does not line up solely over the center, so the whole interior of the O-line will likely match up against the defensive tackle at times. But Schlottmann will see plenty of Williams on Sunday, and despite his limited impact since joining Dallas, the veteran D-lineman cannot be overlooked. After picking up 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hits in his Cowboys debut back in Week 11, Williams has been held without a sack while totaling four QB hits in the five games since. Schlottmann allowed just one pressure in last week's win over the Raiders, and has surrendered just three total pressures with no sacks in his 166 pass block snaps this season.

COWBOY TO WATCH

WR George Pickens – In his first season as a Cowboy, Pickens enjoyed the best year of his NFL career. The veteran wideout leads the team with 92 receptions, 1,420 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, which led to him being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Pickens has five games this season with 130 or more receiving yards, while his 1,420 yards this season is the third-most in the NFL. With CeeDee Lamb missing some time earlier in the year, Pickens has stepped up in a big way, providing Dallas with two number one receivers.

STAT TO KNOW

Heading into the final game of the season, Dallas leads the NFL with an average of 398.6 yards per game. Dak Prescott has played the biggest role in that, as his 4,482 passing yards are the most among all quarterbacks. Prescott could make history for the Cowboys as no Dallas quarterback has ever led the NFL in pass yards in a season, according to NFL Research. The Giants rank 29th in the league in total yards allowed, but the unit has kept each of the last three teams they've faced under 200 net passing yards. It should be noted, though, that the quarterbacks they faced in those games were Marcus Mariota, J.J. McCarthy/Max Brosmer, and Geno Smith/Kenny Pickett.

View rare photos from the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 3.36.49 PM

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