Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday his team is not playing at the level he expected after a disappointing season-opening loss, and he credited the New York Giants more than he anticipated heading into next week’s home game against Washington.
“We’re not at the level that we thought we would be. … We didn’t play well last week. New York had more to do with it than I thought they would. … We have to be ready to step up the level of play (vs. WSH),” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan.
The comments came five days after New York beat Dallas 28-20 on Sunday Night Football at MetLife Stadium, handing first-year Giants coach John Harbaugh a win in his debut and dropping the Cowboys to 0-1.
Dallas entered the season after an offseason defensive overhaul under new coordinator Christian Parker. That unit instead allowed 394 total yards, 165 rushing yards and conversions on nine of 11 third downs.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Running back Cam Skattebo added 81 rushing yards and a score as New York controlled the ball for more than 34 minutes.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finished 22 of 34 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His interception late in the first half, with the score tied 7-7, set up a Giants touchdown and was later described by Jones as a turning point.
Dallas managed only two offensive possessions after halftime. Both ended in touchdowns, but New York answered each time and iced the game by running out the clock.
Jones had spoken earlier in the week of disappointment and communication breakdowns on defense, problems that also plagued the Cowboys during a 7-9-1 finish in 2025. He insisted the first game would not prompt a change in plan.
Before kickoff last week, Jones had said he gets a “tingle” when Dallas plays the Giants, a longtime NFC East rival the Cowboys had dominated for years. The result left that remark looking premature.
Washington arrives Sunday also at 0-1 after a 24-22 loss at Philadelphia. Jayden Daniels threw two late touchdowns for the Commanders, but a failed two-point conversion sealed the defeat.
The Week 2 matchup is set for 4:25 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium and will be televised on Fox. Both clubs are trying to avoid an 0-2 start in the division.
Jones noted that last season’s Super Bowl teams each lost their openers and that his 1993 Cowboys did the same before winning the championship. He said the first game mattered but that the staff saw nothing on film that required abandoning the defensive approach.
Parker and the Cowboys now have a short week to clean up assignments, improve communication and generate more consistent pressure. Jones made clear the standard must rise immediately.
Dallas remains favored at home, but Jones’ Friday assessment left little doubt that last Sunday exposed a gap between expectation and performance.
The owner’s message to his team was straightforward: step up against Washington or the early-season questions will only grow louder.
