Cowboys vs. Giants score, takeaways: CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott key Dallas’

With or without Odell Beckham Jr., the Cowboys’ offensive is a force to be reckoned with. A week after scoring 40 points in Minnesota, Dallas scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives in the second half against the Giants on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys’ scoring spree led to a 28-20 win that moved them to 8-3. The Giants fell to 7-4 after losing their second straight game. 

Trailing 13-7 at halftime, the Cowboys took the lead for good on Dak Prescott’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz midway through the third quarter. The score capped off a 14-play, 75 yard drive that saw the Cowboys enforce their will in both the run and the pass. 

Prescott and Schultz teamed up in the end zone again moments later after the Cowboys’ defense stopped the Giants on fourth-and-1 at New York’s own 40-yard-line. Daniel Jones, facing pressure from Donovan Wilson, threw an off-target pass to Saquon Barkley that Barkley was unable to corral from behind. 

The Cowboys provided the coup de grâce on their next drive when Peyton Hendershot scored on a jet sweep from two yards out. CeeDee Lamb made three impressive catches on the drive, including a one-handed grab two plays before Hendershot’s score. 

The Giants briefly gave their fans a slight glimmer of hope when Richie James caught a short touchdown pass with eight seconds left. But the Cowboys quickly extinguished that hope when Lamb recovered the onside kick. 

The Giants led at halftime on the strength of two interceptions off Prescott. The second pick, courtesy of safety Julian Love, set up Graham Gano’s 47-yard field goal on the final play of the half. Barkley gave the Giants the lead on a one-yard touchdown run less than six minutes into the second quarter. 

Here’s a closer look at what down in Dallas.

Why the Cowboys won 

Like they did in their Week 3 win over the Giants, the Cowboys dominated on the ground. Elliott rumbled for 92 yards and a score on 16 carries. Pollard contributed with 60 yards as the Cowboys as a team rushed for 169 yards and two scores on 39 carries. 

Prescott rebounded after a so-so first half. He went 11 of 14 for 145 yards and two touchdowns and no picks. Prescott, who has now won 10 straight games over the Giants, had success getting the ball to Lamb, who pulled down six passes for 106 yards. Prescott also had success getting the ball to tight ends Jake Ferguson and Schultz, who caught a combined seven passes for 88 yards. 

Defensively, the Cowboys’ dominated possession downs. They held the Giants to 3 of 11 on third down and 0 of 2 on fourth down. Per usual, the Cowboys enjoyed a stellar game from Micah Parsons, who had two sacks and two tackles for loss. 

Why the Giants lost 

It was a rough night for the Giants’ offense, particularly in the second half. Barkley had just 39 yards on 11 carries in the game. Slayton had just one catch for five yards in the second half. Jones threw for a mere 105 yards in the second half, with a good chunk of those…