Cowboys’ Caleb Downs records his first NFL sack on Jaxson Dart against the Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Dallas Cowboys rookie safety/DB Caleb Downs recorded his first career NFL sack on Sunday night. But the play encapsulated a frustrating first half for a Dallas defense that repeatedly failed to capitalize on takeaway opportunities against the New York Giants.

Downs, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, blitzed off the edge and brought down Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart for a loss in the first half at MetLife Stadium.

Caleb Downs sacked Jaxson Dart in the Cowboys’ season opener against the Giants

The ball popped loose on the hit, but it fell directly into the arms of Giants offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr., who fell on it to mitigate the damage. Instead of a Dallas recovery deep in New York territory, the Giants retained possession.

The play was the second of three potential takeaways that slipped through the Cowboys’ fingers in the opening 30 minutes. Earlier, cornerback Cobie Durant nearly intercepted Dart on a previous possession, and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku forced a fumble that the Giants also recovered. 

Dallas finally got one back after the two-minute warning when defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and rookie Shavon Revel combined to force and recover a fumble, giving the Cowboys a final possession before halftime.

Despite the defensive takeaways, the Cowboys trail 14-7 at halftime. The Giants opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run by Cam Skattebo in the first quarter, capping an 83-yard, 10-play drive. 

Dallas answered in the second quarter when Dak Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb on a 1-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:44 remaining before the break.

But Prescott gave the ball right back. Under heavy pressure on third-and-5 from Dallas’ 36-yard line, he rolled to his right and attempted to throw the ball away. 

But the pass floated long enough for Giants safety Jevon Holland to make a sliding interception near the sideline. The Giants capitalized, with Dart finding tight end Isaiah Likely for a 15-yard touchdown to give New York a 14-7 lead heading into the locker room.

Dart finished the first half, completing 11-of-15 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, adding 39 rushing yards on three carries. Prescott was 10-of-17 for 72 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

For Downs, the sack and forced fumble offered a glimpse of the playmaking ability that prompted Dallas to trade up for him. But the Cowboys’ inability to recover any of the three first-half fumbles, including the one created by their prized rookie, remains the defining story of a half that could have looked very different.