Home openers are supposed to set the tone, and the Cowboys made sure theirs did, even if it nearly took years off the collective lifespan in Arlington. After last season’s 2-7 stumble at AT&T Stadium, Dallas couldn’t afford to blink. They didn’t. Brandon Aubrey’s monster leg saved the day, drilling a 64-yarder at the buzzer and a 46-yarder in overtime to cap a 40-37 win over the Giants in an instant classic. Ugly in moments, electric in others, it was the kind of fight the Cowboys had to win. And they did.

Here are the key takeaways from the game…

Aubrey’s heroics echo throughout the AT&T Stadium

You kick a field goal, we kick a field goal! Seemed like the Giants were not ready to give up. It looked like the Cowboys might be heading for a 0-2 start, but Brandon Aubrey had other plans. With just about a minute left in the fourth quarter, Aubrey nailed an incredible 64-yard field goal to tie the game at 37-37 and send it into overtime!

Then, with the game on the line, Aubrey did it again, kicking a 46-yard field goal to win the game 40-37 for Dallas over the Giants. It was a wild, back-and-forth battle between star quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson, with Aubrey stealing the show and helping the Cowboys take the win. Fans couldn’t have asked for a more thrilling finish!

They call him Butter, and not without reason. The nickname, gifted by Dak Prescott during Brandon Aubrey’s rookie season, has aged as smoothly as every swing of his golden right leg.

Vintage Wilson is back

Russell Wilson was on fire today, completing 30 of 41 passes for 450 yards and throwing 3 touchdowns. His trademark moon balls were on full display, arcing across the sky like a perfect crescent. Per Next Gen Stats, he hit 7 of 9 deep passes for 264 yards – the most in a single game since they began tracking in 2016. He capped it with strikes to Wan’Dale Robinson (32 yards) and Malik Nabers (48 yards) in the final three minutes. The numbers were eye-popping, and only Eli Manning, Phil Simms, and Y.A. Tittle have ever thrown for more yards in Giants history.

On the other side, Dak Prescott was solid and steady, completing 38 of 52 passes for 361 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also ran for 14 yards in a crucial moment late in the game, setting up the Cowboys’ game-winning field goal. Prescott made smart plays when the pressure was highest, especially in the fourth quarter and overtime, helping Dallas pull off the win.

Flags going all around

The first half of the Giants vs. Cowboys game turned into a full-blown flag fest in Arlington. The first half even ended with a false start call against the Cowboys, and both teams combined for 13 accepted penalties totaling 110 yards. There were also about seven more infractions that were declined. The flags kept flying, especially during a Cowboys’ offensive drive late in the second quarter, where both teams were penalized repeatedly.

The Giants struggled with discipline, racking up nine accepted violations for 80 yards, including a wild sequence where they were hit with three separate infractions, but one was waived due to a taunting penalty on the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb.

Top targets

Dak Prescott had a strong game for the Cowboys, handling pressure well despite one risky interception. Javonte Williams was a key player, rushing 18 times for 97 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown run, and catching six passes for 33 yards.

The Cowboys’ receivers, including CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and George Pickens, combined for 23 catches and over 250 receiving yards. Ferguson had 78 yards, and Pickens added 68 yards and a touchdown. Thanks to Williams’ strong running, Dallas gained 135 rushing yards in total. It was a great team effort that helped the Cowboys win a tight, exciting game against the Giants.

Sluggish starts could cost Dallas later

The Cowboys nearly let their home opener slip away before it even got going. They looked flat in the first quarter, failing to pick up a single first down until midway through the second. Two straight three-and-outs gave the Giants control of the clock and the tempo, and by halftime, Dallas was trailing 13-10, a frustrating reminder of last season’s struggles at AT&T Stadium.

Thankfully, the second half told a different story. Dak Prescott stepped up when it mattered, Brandon Aubrey delivered under pressure, and the Cowboys clawed their way back to a thrilling 40-37 win. But let’s be honest, that kind of sluggish start won’t fly against the heavyweights waiting later in the season. With six playoff-caliber opponents lined up in November and December, Dallas needs to come out swinging from the opening snap. If they want to be taken seriously as contenders, slow starts like this one have to become a thing of the past.