Michael Irvin questions Cowboys’ identity after Giants upset as Dak Prescott and Jerry Jones face early-season pressure
Michael Irvin did not hold back after the Dallas Cowboys opened their 2026 season with a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants. Dallas entered the game with plenty of expectations, but the Giants controlled the night and left the Cowboys with serious questions after Week 1. New York finished with 394 total yards, compared with only 244 for Dallas. The Giants also held the ball for 36 minutes and 40 seconds, giving the Cowboys very little time to find a rhythm. In his first game under new Giants head coach John Harbaugh, the quarterback completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 54 yards. His biggest connection came with Isaiah Likely, who caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Skattebo rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown, while New York repeatedly put together long drives that kept Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense on the sideline. The Giants quickly turned that mistake into points when Dart found Likely for a 15-yard touchdown, giving New York a 14-7 lead just before halftime. Prescott finished with 175 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Javonte Williams scored twice, once on a one-yard run and later on a 17-yard reception. After Williams scored to cut the Giants’ lead to 28-20, he was flagged for taunting Tyler Nubin. That moved the extra-point attempt back to 48 yards, and Brandon Aubrey missed the kick. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Dallas is now 0-1, while New York begins the season 1-0.
Because that’s where we knew we had something going, and that part…” The Cowboys did have some bright moments, it really was the offense,.
The Cowboys legend questioned what he saw from Jerry Jones’ team and said the offense was a bigger concern for him than the defense. I did not expect the Cowboys to be what they were,” Irvin said. Irvin said that was not the only part of the team that bothered him While Dallas’ defense had plenty of problems. “It was the same ol’ same ol’ that hurt me,” Irvin said.
Irvin’s reaction showed just how disappointed he was with the Cowboys’ performance. “What the h**l was that?! We did a lot of huffing and puffing, but we didn’t blow down any houses. His frustration came after Dallas failed to match the Giants for most of the game. Jaxson Dart was a major reason for that. The Giants also kept the pressure on Dallas with their running game. That was particularly damaging after Jevon Holland intercepted Prescott late in the second quarter. In fact, he pointed directly at the offense as his biggest concern. “My biggest concern was not just the defense. CeeDee Lamb also caught a touchdown pass. But Dallas struggled to put those moments together consistently. The fourth quarter showed how quickly small mistakes can hurt. Dallas then needed another stop to get back into the game, but the defense could not force a punt or turnover. The Cowboys had only two second-half possessions, while the Giants continued to control the clock. For Irvin, that combination made the loss more worrying than the final score suggested. The Cowboys did not simply fall short in the final minutes. They struggled to control the game for long stretches, while the Giants looked more prepared and more physical. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
For Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, Irvin’s comments underline the bigger issue: the team needs to show much more on both sides of the ball before the early-season loss becomes a sign of deeper problems.