Giants vs. Cowboys score: Dallas picks off New York, moves one step closer to NFC East crown

The Cowboys, powered by three interceptions, improve to 10-4

There was virtually nothing on the line for the New York Giants when they hosted the Dallas Cowboys, going on to lose to their southernmost NFC East rivals with a 21-6 final that could've been so much worse. Having won the coin toss and opting to receive, a curious decision that didn't pan out well for Dallas (it often hasn't), Dak Prescott and the struggling offense were off to a strong start on the opening drive but saw it killed by penalty, leaving the field with no points and asking their electric defense to provide the spark. 

That's exactly what happened, when All-Pro pass-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence hit Mike Glennon and forced an errant pass that was reeled in for yet another interception by the unit -- this time by cornerback Jourdan Lewis. Things rapidly went downhill for the Giants from there, and while the Cowboys' offense was again uneven and filled with errors, it didn't need much firepower to complete the season sweep of New York, something that's becoming very familiar in this rivalry. Now sitting at 10-4 on the season while pushing the Giants down to 4-10, it's mission accomplished for Dallas in Week 15, in a game that saw the Giants hope Jaylon Smith could somehow save the day against his former team; and only two days after signing.

Bold strategy, Cotton.

It was a day that saw the Cowboys again pluck interceptions out of the air as if they were grapes on a vine, and having now moved into the No. 3 seat in the NFC standings -- by virtue of the Arizona Cardinals losing to the Detroit Lions -- there's plenty of juice in their glass heading as they attempt to run the table to end the regular season (and season, period).

Why the Cowboys won

Their offense needs to wake up and stay awake, but they'll have to hope for a better go at that next week, but they did reward the defensive effort with a touchdown burst from Ezekiel Elliott early in the first half to help set the tone, and applying some early pressure on Glennon to make up for his mistake with points. Several plays later, Glennon had the Giants in striking distance with the help of an insane one-handed catch from Saquon Barkley that you'll likely see on repeat this week, but rookie phenom Micah Parsons made an unreal play to peel off into coverage for a pass breakup on third-and-1 that held Big Blue to just a field goal.

From there, it was yet another week that saw the the Cowboys defense dominate an opponent while their offense did just enough to either help or not undermine their counterparts. Before the second quarter ended, Lawrence made his presence felt with a forced fumble, recovered by Carlos Watkins, in a game that is seeing the former continue his All-Pro form in the return from injured reserve in December. Toss in three interceptions by Glennon -- grabbed by Lewis, Malik Hooker and Trevon Diggs, respectively -- and the Super Bowl caliber defense in Dallas continues to carry them toward the postseason. 

Prescott avoided throwing any interceptions, and his struggles were exacerbated by good throws being dropped by CeeDee Lamb, but Dalton Schultz would shake off his poor blocking by reeling in all eight of his targets for a team-high in receiving yards (67) and a touchdown in a performance that made him the steady hand in the air while Elliott and Pollard provided that comfort on the ground, and the defense carpetbombed Glennon into eventually being pulled from the game altogether.

Why the Giants lost

The game didn't get out of hand early on, at least not to the degree the Cowboys would've liked, which hinted at the Giants at least trying to leave it all on the field with the hopes of somehow upsetting Dallas. Alas, it was not to be, because there was little that went well for Big Blue in any phase of the game. After scoring just three points in the first quarter, they'd score only three for the remainder of the game, which means neither Glennon nor Saquon Barkley could figure out a way into the end zone, be it through the air or on the ground, and that's why the Cowboys didn't have to light up the scoreboard in this one.

The second quarter wasn't much more exciting offensively, a random meaty play or two notwithstanding. A questionable decision to run on third-and-7 in the red zone led to a Cowboys field goal, keeping the Giants within striking distance, but the defense was not done treating Glennon like the backup quarterback he is. He got little assistance from his own defense, considering Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard combined for more than 100 yards at halftime and although they were able to fluster Prescott into making mistakes, they took advantage of just one of them -- a forced fumble in the fourth quarter by Lorenzo Carter who then recovered the ball.

But on the very next drive, Glennon tossed his third INT of the day, with Trevon Diggs using his 10th interception of the season to effectively steal away any remaining hope the Giants had regarding a potential comeback. This game went exactly as many expected it would for New York, and that's the long and short of it.

Turning point

When you saw Lawrence force Glennon into this mistake that became an interception for Lewis, you figured it was going to be a long day for the Giants quarterback, and it was.

Play of the game 

Barkley rarely ever fumbles, but when you're hit by a Tank, bad things can happen.

QB controversy in N.Y.?

"Jake Fromm has done more in one series than Glennon [has] all game. How was he not put in the game to start the second half?" -- Jake Brown of New York Post Sports

What's next

The Cowboys will get ready for a rapidly occurring rematch with the Washington Football Team, hoping for a 2021 sweep, while the Giants try and break out a broom of their own when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. 

[Dec 19, 2021 at 4:03 pm ET · Patrik Walker]

Insult to literal injury: the cart is out for Sterling Shepard. 

[Dec 19, 2021 at 3:41 pm ET · Patrik Walker]

Diggs reels in his 10th interception of the season after it was initially ruled a PBU. Third interception for Glennon on the day. 

[Dec 19, 2021 at 3:25 pm ET · Patrik Walker]

Malik Hooker's INT basically just served as a field-flipper. Offense stalls again.

[Dec 19, 2021 at 3:19 pm ET · Patrik Walker]

Glennon tosses his second interception of the day -- the 22nd takeaway for the Cowboys defense this season -- reeled in by safety Malik Hooker this time around. Dallas defense is a problem. 

[Dec 19, 2021 at 3:13 pm ET · Patrik Walker]

Barkley balances his universe by following up his fantastic one-hand catch by dropping an easy screen pass. He heard footsteps.

[Dec 19, 2021 at 3:10 pm ET · Patrik Walker]

Zuerlein is 3-for-3 on FG attempts.

Also true: Zuerlein is 0-2 on PATs.