The Dallas Cowboys opened Week 1 with a defensive collapse against the New York Giants, and the numbers make the ugly result look even worse. Dallas lost 28-20, turning the Cowboys' Week 1 opener into an early warning sign. According to The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia, the Cowboys posted the worst defensive performance of any team in Week 1 based on EPA per drive. That is a brutal way to begin the season.

The Cowboys faced only seven Giants possessions. New York scored four touchdowns, punted once, lost one fumble, and used its final possession to run out the clock. The Cowboys simply could not get off the field when it mattered.

Kapadia added another layer of context. Among 574 games played since the start of last season, Dallas’ defensive showing ranked 571st by EPA per drive. Only three performances were worse across that entire span.

Even compared with the Cowboys’ own rough 2025 season, this stood out. Their Week 1 defensive effort was worse than all but one Dallas defensive game from last year.

Cowboys defense already faces pressure before Week 2

Article Continues Below

One bad game does not define a season, but still, this was not a narrow statistical miss. The Giants consistently finished drives, controlled key situations, and punished Dallas under the lights. It also erased any early optimism surrounding Dallas' revamped defense.

Four touchdowns on seven possessions says enough, and the EPA numbers say even more.

That puts immediate pressure on the Cowboys before their Week 2 matchup with the Washington Commanders. Dallas cannot afford another performance where nearly every opposing drive feels dangerous. The defense needs cleaner tackling, better third-down execution, and more resistance in the red zone.

There is time to fix it, but after one week, the warning lights are already flashing. Can the Cowboys respond against Washington, or was Week 1 the start of a much bigger problem?