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Cowboys rookie report: Caleb Downs had one big moment in Giants loss

The Dallas Cowboys opened their 2026-27 NFL regular season with a deflating 28-20 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Despite an offensive unit that eventually found rhythm after a sluggish opening half, coordinator Christian Parker's restructured defense faltered significantly.

The unit surrendered 394 total yards to an offense directed by quarterback Jaxson Dart, struggling consistently to halt the Giants' ground game.

First-year safety Caleb Downs delivered the defense's primary highlight, forcing a fumble on his maiden career sack during the contest. Even with that splash play, head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed frustration with the roster's young contributors following the sloppy Week 1 showing, indicating that extensive adjustments are needed moving forward.