The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their regular season in disappointing fashion, and the aftermath only made things worse.
A campaign that began with postseason ambitions ended with a 7-9 record and a decisive 34-17 loss to the New York Giants in Week 18.
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Missing the playoffs was already a bitter pill for Dak Prescott and company, but the final days of the season brought additional consequences that underscored many of the problems Dallas battled all year.
The loss itself reflected a familiar pattern. Dallas showed early signs of competitiveness, jumping out to a 10-6 lead in the first quarter. That brief momentum quickly faded.
The offense stalled completely in the second and third quarters, failing to put any points on the board while the Giants steadily seized control. New York responded with 10 points before halftime and continued to pull away in the second half, never allowing the Cowboys to regain rhythm.
As the game slipped out of reach, discipline issues surfaced once again. Shortly after the season ended, the NFL announced fines against two Dallas defenders for unnecessary roughness committed during the Giants matchup.
While individual penalties are common across the league, these decisions felt symbolic of a team that repeatedly hurt itself at critical moments.
Season-long discipline issue
Linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was fined $10,258 following a facemask violation late in the first quarter. The infraction came at a time when the Cowboys’ defense was struggling to slow New York’s offense, and Ezeiruaku‘s overall impact on the game remained limited beyond the penalty.
Although the fine itself was relatively minor, it added to the frustration of watching defensive stops slip away due to avoidable mistakes.
Safety Donovan Wilson faced a steeper penalty, receiving a $23,186 fine for unnecessary roughness involving helmet contact in the second quarter. Wilson finished the game with four tackles but failed to create turnovers or break up passes.
His penalty occurred during a drive in which the Giants maintained control of possession, further tilting the game in New York’s favor.
On the stat sheet, the Cowboys were outmatched. The Giants piled up 380 total yards compared to Dallas’ 286 and controlled the pace of play throughout the afternoon. Dallas converted just 25 percent of its third-down attempts and lost the turnover battle, making a comeback nearly impossible.
Those struggles mirrored a troubling season-long trend. Discipline was a persistent problem for the Cowboys, who finished the year with 133 accepted penalties for 1,136 yards, among the highest totals in the NFL.
The offensive line led the way with 31 penalties that repeatedly stalled drives, while defensive backs were flagged 29 times, often extending opponents’ possessions. The defensive line and wide receivers also contributed to the mounting penalty count.
In total, Dallas committed nearly an equal number of penalties at home and on the road, highlighting inconsistency regardless of setting. The Week 18 fines were simply the final reminder of a season defined by missed opportunities and self-inflicted setbacks.
