EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —

The Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) delivered a 37-22 beatdown over the winless New York Jets (0-5) at MetLife Stadium with a powerful offensive onslaught and a solid defensive effort. Despite missing 4 key offensive linemen and star receiver CeeDee Lamb, Dallas overwhelmed New York in a game that was never close after the second quarter, handing the Jets their worst start since 2020.

Game Recap

The Jets opened with a 70-yard, 13-play drive, converting three third downs and leaning on Breece Hall’s 22-yard run, but settled for a 25-yard Nick Folk field goal (3-0) after a bizarre play involving a pass hitting the SkyCam cable. Dallas answered on their first drive with a field goal, but the second quarter became a Cowboys showcase. Dak Prescott orchestrated two 90-plus-yard drives, exploiting New York’s defense, which failed to record a sack or pressure early. Javonte Williams sparked the surge with a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by a 66-yard scamper setting up Prescott’s touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson, making it 17-3. Dallas piled on with Marist Liufau forcing a fumble and Prescott tossing another touchdown to Ferguson sending the game into halftime with the Cowboys up 23-3.

The Jets showed late fight, with Justin Fields connecting on touchdown passes to Andrew Beck and Garrett Wilson in the fourth quarter, plus two-point conversions to Mason Taylor and Josh Reynolds. The Jets narrowed the gap to a two-score game (30-14 in the 4th) but the Dallas defense provided relentless pressure (five sacks on Fields) ensuring the Jets’ rally was too late. Prescott sealed the game with second half touchdown passes to George Pickens and another to Javonte Williams whose ground dominance kept the game out of reach late.

Key Player Stats

• Dak Prescott (QB, Cowboys): 18/28, 237 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 127.4 passer rating. Prescott was sharp, dissecting the Jets’ secondary despite a make-shift O-line.
• Javonte Williams (RB, Cowboys): 16carries, 135 yards, 2 TDs (1 run and 1 reception), including a 66-yard burst. Williams was the ground game’s backbone, gashing New York’s front seven, and running clock late.
• Ryan Flournoy (WR, Cowboys): 6 receptions, 124 yards. Getting playing time due to Lamb’s injury, he had a breakout game, including a crucial 46-yard catch.
• Jake Ferguson (TE, Cowboys): 7 receptions, 49 yards, 2 TDs. Ferguson was a red-zone beast, hauling in two scores.
• Justin Fields (QB, Jets): 32/46, 283 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, sacked 5 times. Fields racked up stats late in the game but the sacks proved too costly to overcome.
• Breece Hall (RB, Jets): 14 carries, 113 yards, 1 fumble lost. Hall had a solid game but his turnover changed momentum of the game.
• Cowboys Defense: 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, held Jets to 7/16 on third downs. The much-criticized defense stepped up, suffocating New York’s offense for three quarters.

Takeaways

The Cowboys’ offense, led by Prescott’s four-touchdown masterpiece and Williams’ explosive runs, proved it can score even with four O-line starters sidelined. Flournoy’s emergence as a deep threat adds a new dimension and confidence when starters are out. Defensively, Dallas showed resilience, with five sacks, a crucial forced fumble, and timely stops. New Cowboys Coach Brian Schottenheimer has the players buying-in and there’s optimism in Dallas. For the Jets, the loss exposed ongoing defensive woes (zero turnovers this season) and offensive inconsistency, with Fields’ late success overshadowed by early mistakes and stalled drives.

What’s Next

Dallas (2-2-1) heads to Charlotte to face the Panthers in Week 6, looking to build momentum in a favorable schedule stretch. The Jets (0-5) host Denver, desperate to avoid a fourth 0-5 start in franchise history under new coach Aaron Glenn. The Cowboys are back in the mix, while the Jets’ season is spiraling downward.

“Cowboy Regg” – Co-Host of the “Sons of the Star” Podcast. – Co-editor at “We Like Sportz”Follow “Cowboy Regg” on X @ Irish_Cowboy88