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Brian Schottenheimer report card: Cowboys culture crashes in Week 1

The Dallas Cowboys endured a frustrating start to their 2026 campaign, dropping an NFC East clash to the New York Giants by a score of 28-20 on Sunday Night Football. A sluggish offensive showing forced Dallas into an uphill battle during the second half, while the revamped defensive unit surrendered 394 total yards.

The Giants commanded time of possession for more than 36 minutes, fueled by 165 yards on the ground and the dual-threat scrambling of Jaxson Dart.

Following the defeat, head coach Brian Schottenheimer voiced his displeasure with the squad's performance, specifically singling out the mistakes of Dallas' younger contributors and putting blame on a specific defender. With preseason Super Bowl aspirations already tested, the coaching staff faces rapid pressure to correct defensive lingering issues from 2025 as the team falls behind early in the division standings.