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Cowboys news: Young defenders made mistakes, “critical” improvements needed

The Dallas Cowboys began their season on a sour note, dropping a 28-20 decision on the road against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. New York quarterback Jaxson Dart picked apart the Dallas defense, completing 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three scores without throwing a single interception, securing a victory in John Harbaugh's debut as Giants head coach.

The Dallas defense struggled mightily overall, conceding 394 total yards to the opposition, which included 165 yards on the ground.

Following the defeat, Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer highlighted the urgency to develop his inexperienced defensive personnel after multiple costly errors. Adding to the team's woes, both safety Malik Hooker and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown suffered injuries during the contest, with Schottenheimer sharing a discouraging outlook on Hooker's condition.

Meanwhile, New York bolstered its roster postgame by picking up former Dallas running back Phil Mafah.