Cowboys vs. Giants highlights: Dallas pushes past New York, Drew Lock on Thanksgiving

The Dallas Cowboys used a strong third quarter to push past the New York Giants, 27-20, in the second NFL game on Thanksgiving. Dallas' defense stepped up against their NFC East foe with six sacks on Giants backup quarterback Drew Lock as the offense controlled the clock on the ground.

Lock finished the day 21-for-32 passing with 178 yards, one interception, and one fumble lost. He had great success with his legs, scrambling for 57 yards on four carries, including an eight-yard touchdown. His 28-yard scramble was the longest play of the game for New York.

Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush completed 21 of 36 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Running back Rico Dowdle had a career-high 112 yards, the first 100-yard rushing game for a Cowboys running back since Tony Pollard in Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season, and a touchdown on 22 carries.

The teams came out hot in the first half with four scores on the first four drives. Dallas got on the board first with a Brandon Aubrey field goal; New York responded with a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead, their first lead since Week 5.

Dallas scored 10 consecutive points from there, capped off by a 23-yard pick-six by linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. After his score, the teams combined for just 82 yards over the ensuing 11 minutes of game time.

Lock fumbled on the third play of the second half to hand the ball back to Dallas quickly.

The Cowboys turned things on with that opportunity. Dallas went 38 yards in six plays to score their first touchdown on offense, a two-yard pass from Rush to Brandin Cooks. A quick three-and-out by the Giants gave the Cowboys the ball back again and Dowdle scored from four yards out to push Dallas' lead to 27-10.

The Giants scored twice in the fourth quarter, a Graham Gano field goal and that Lock touchdown run, to make it 27-20 before Dallas ran out the clock. Dowdle iced the game on the ground as the defense allowed just 247 yards, the fewest since Week 5. Micah Parsons led the pass rush with 1.5 of the team's six sacks.

New York (2-10) have now lost seven games in a row and head home in Week 14 for a matchup with the New Orleans Saints (4-7).

Dallas (5-7) have won two in a row for the first time since Week 5. They'll stay home next week for a "Monday Night Football" matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7).

Cowboys vs Giants highlights

Cowboys vs Giants final score: Dallas wins 27-20

Drew Lock's touchdown run was the Giants' final score as the Cowboys held on to win 27-20 and improved to 5-7.

CeeDee Lamb injury update

Fox Sports' Erin Andrews reported that the Cowboys did not have an official injury update on CeeDee Lamb. who left with an injury in the third quarter. She also noted that the veteran receiver had been nursing an AC joint injury in his shoulder during the 2024 NFL season. Andrews couldn't confirm whether that malady was what was holding Lamb out of the game. - Jacob Camenker

Cowboys vs Giants score: Drew Lock scrambles for TD

Dallas sent pressure on 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line and the Giants' Drew Lock stepped up to the vacated area in the middle of the field before scrambling right to the end zone. Graham Gano's extra point makes it 27-20 with 2:18 left in the game. New York has two timeouts remaining.

Cowboys take two minutes off the clock before punting

Rico Dowdle took the first play of Dallas' drive 17 yards but the Cowboys didn't gain any more from there on out and punted once again. New York takes over at their own 20 with 4:39 to go in the game.

Cowboys notch another sack to force Giants punt

Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa earned his first sack of the afternoon with the Giants facing 3rd-and-4. That's the sixth sack in the game for Dallas and forced a 4th-and-10 punt for New York. Dallas' offense takes over again at their own 39 with 6:59 to go in the game.

Cowboys punt near midfield after short drive

Dallas went 33 yards before punting on 4th-and-8 from the Giants' 47. A touchback means the New York offense will take over on their own 20.

Cowboys vs Giants score: New York gets back on board with 47-yard FG

The Giants opened the quarter with 2nd-and-5 from the Dallas 25 but Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons got his second sack of the game. New York couldn't overcome that setback and had to settle for a field goal. Graham Gano knocked through his second field goal of the game from 47 yards out to cut the deficit to 27-13 with 13:34 to go in the game.

Giants driving to close third quarter

After a fumble and punt on their first two drives of the third quarter, New York has gained 45 yards on seven plays to get to the Dallas 30-yard line as the third quarter ends. Drew Lock scrambled for 21 yards on the drive - the second-longest play of the game for the Giants.

Cowboys vs Giants score: Rico Dowdle scores his first rushing TD of the year

Dallas' running back punched it in from four yards out to cap off a nine-play, 70-yard drive that took just under five minutes off the clock. Brandon Aubrey hits the extra point and the Cowboys extend their lead to 27-10 with 4:23 to go in the third quarter.

CeeDee Lamb leaves game with injury

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was hurt on a play midway through the third quarter during which he was tackled by Giants defensive back Dru Phillips.

Lamb remained down after the play, which resulted in a pass interference call, ended. He left the field under his own power and returned to action one play later.

However, Lamb trotted back off the field after the play and removed his helmet. He wasn't seen for the remainder of the drive but stayed on the sidelines without his helmet.

Lamb recorded two receptions for 39 yards. - Jacob Camenker

Micah Parsons gets first sack to force Giants punt

Drew Lock dropped back to pass on 3rd-and-5 but Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons got home for his first sack of the afternoon. An 11-yard loss backed the Giants up to their own 24 and forced another punt. Dallas takes over on their own 30 with 9:22 to go in the third quarter.

Cowboys vs Giants score: Cooper Rush throws TD pass to Brandin Cooks

After recovering a Drew Lock fumble, Dallas drove down to the Giants' 2-yard line after a near-fumble by quarterback Cooper Rush on a scramble. Rush found Cooks in the left side of the end zone for the Cowboys' first touchdown on offense of the day. Brandon Aubrey's extra point is good and they take their largest lead of the game, 20-10, with 11:37 left in the third quarter.

Drew Lock fumbles to open second half

The Giants' quarterback stepped up to scramble out of the pocket on 3rd-and-2 from the New York 38 when Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks forced a fumble and DeMarvion Overshown recovered. Dallas takes over at the Giants' 38.

Cowboys 13, Giants 10: Dallas leads at halftime

After one first down in the final 8:59 of the second quarter, the game is finally headed to the break. The teams combined for 33 yards and five punts in the final seven minutes of the half.

New York will receive the ball to start the second half.

Cowboys go three-and-out again, punt back to New York

Dallas gained 15 yards on a roughing the passer penalty but Cooper Rush threw four incompletions and the Cowboys settled for their third consecutive punt. New York takes over at its own 11 with 1:05 left in the half.

Giants offense sputters, forced to punt

New York took just 21 seconds off the clock over three plays and lost two yards thanks to a false start penalty. The Giants' third punt of the game gives the Cowboys the ball back again on their own 34 with 1:28 to go in the first half.

Cowboys punt again after multiple penalties

Dallas faced 1st-and-20 after an offensive pass interference call on tight end Luke Schoonmaker to start the drive following the Giants' field goal. Cooper Rush couldn't connect with CeeDee Lamb or Jonathan Mingo but an offsides penalty on New York made it 3rd-and-15. Hunter Luepke's two-yard run brought the game to the two minute warning and the Giants will take over at their own 14 after the punt.

Cowboys vs Giants score: New York settles for FG after great punt return

The Giants started their drive from the Cowboys' 29-yard line after a 22-yard punt return by Ihmir Smith-Marsette but managed to gain one yard on four plays. Graham Gano made his first field goal of the game from 46 yards out to cut the deficit to 13-10 with 3:21 to go in the first half.

Cowboys punt again after Jonathan Mingo can't hang on

Cooper Rush fired a pass deep down the left sideline to the Cowboys' trade deadline pickup and Mingo couldn't hold on thanks to good defense by Giants cornerback Cordale Flott. Dallas punted from inside their own 5-yard line and a great return means the Giants take over at the Cowboys' 29.

Drew Lock can't connect with Malik Nabers, Giants punt again

New York gained two yards on two plays before Lock overthrew Nabers in double coverage. The Giants punted from the Dallas 42 and the Cowboys will take over at their own 1-yard line with 6:18 to go in the second quarter.

CeeDee Lamb drops third-down pass, Cowboys turn it over on downs

Cooper Rush rolled out to his right on 3rd-and-1 from the Dallas 44 and found Lamb on a crosser but the star wideout dropped the pass. The Cowboys went for it on 4th-and-1 but fullback Hunter Luepke was stuffed for no gain and the Giants take over with 7:15 to go in the second.

Giants kick first punt of the game after three-and-out

Dallas' pass rush finally got to Drew Lock on 3rd-and-8 from midfield as Donovan Wilson brought him down for a loss of 12 yards. New York kicked the first punt of the game and the Cowboys take over on their own 14-yard line with 8:59 left until halftime.

Cowboys vs Giants score: DeMarvion Overshown blitzes, scores pick-6

Dallas' linebacker was blitzing and blew up a block by New York's Devin Singletary. He tipped Drew Lock's pass to himself and ran 23 yards to the end zone. Brandon Aubrey's extra point is good and the Cowboys take a 13-7 lead with 11:29 left in the first half.

Cowboys vs Giants score: Aubrey makes second FG to close deficit

The Cowboys couldn't keep up the momentum from Rico Dowdle's hard running as Cooper Rush couldn't connect with CeeDee Lamb on 3rd-and-6 from the Giants' 15. Kicker Brandon Aubrey made his second field goal of the game, this one from 33 yards out, to cut the deficit to 7-6 with 11:44 to go in the second quarter.

Cowboys driving to close first quarter

The first quarter of this Thanksgiving NFC East battle is in the books with the Giants leading 7-3. Dallas is driving as the quarter ends and are facing 1st-and-10 from the Giants' 33-yard line to open the second quarter.

Dallas running back Rico Dowdle sparked the Cowboys' offense with 35 yards rushing on the final two plays of the first quarter.

Cowboys vs Giants score: Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores first TD of the game

After a Drew Lock scramble brought the Giants down to the Dallas' 1-yard line, rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. punched it in. Graham Gano's extra point is good and the Giants have a 7-3 lead with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

New York got multiple key conversions on the drive. Tracy Jr.'s six-yard run moved the chains on 4th-and-1 and Devin Singletary converted a 3rd-and-1 at the Dallas 35. Lock's run on 3rd-and-6 from the Dallas 29 brought New York down to the goal line.

With that touchdown, the Giants are leading a game for the first time since Week 5.

Cowboys vs Giants score: Dallas gets on board with FG

Cooper Rush's pass to Brandin Cooks was just outside of his reach on 3rd-and-4 from the Giants' 5-yard line. Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey opened the scoring for the game with a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Cowboys drove 65 yards in 11 plays, highlighted by Rush finding CeeDee Lamb for a key third-down conversion to bring the Cowboys close to the red zone before KaVontae Turpin brought them inside the Giants' 15.

Cowboys start the game on offense

Dallas' offense will start the first drive of the game from their own 30 after a touchback.

Cowboys vs. Giants Thanksgiving game start time

• Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 PT)

• Location: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

The Cowboys continue their tradition of playing on Thanksgiving with the afternoon game on the slate. It's slightly later than the typical afternoon slate start time of 4:05 or 4:25 p.m. ET.

Cowboys vs. Giants TV channel

• TV channel: FOX

FOX will carry the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving game for the first time since 2022, the last time these two teams played on the holiday. Announcers Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Tom Brady (color analyst) will be on the call, with Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews reporting from the sideline.

Cowboys vs. Giants picks, predictions

Here's how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Cowboys vs. Giants Turkey Day matchup will sway:

• Lorenzo Reyes: Cowboys 21, Giants 14

• Tyler Dragon: Cowboys 22, Giants 17

• Richard Morin: Cowboys 27, Giants 13

• Jordan Mendoza: Cowboys 20, Giants 16

Cowboys vs. Giants odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Cowboys are favored to get a win on Thanksgiving over the Giants, per BetMGM’s NFL odds.

Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

• Favorite: Dallas (-4)

• Moneyline: Dallas (-200), New York (+165)

• Over/under: 37.5 points

NFC East standings 

• Philadelphia Eagles (9-2, 3-0 NFC East)

• Washington Commanders (7-5, 2-2)

• Dallas Cowboys (4-7, 2-1)

• New York Giants (2-9, 0-4)

Where is Cowboys vs. Giants? 

The Cowboys-Giants Thanksgiving game in Week 13 will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys have hosted one Thanksgiving game every year since 1978.

Why do the Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving?

In the 1960s, NFL viewership was growing rapidly, and the league added a second Thanksgiving game in 1966. Then-Dallas Cowboys president Tex Schramm volunteered the Cowboys to play on the second game, so long as the team could host the game each year.

The Cowboys won their Thanksgiving debut 26-14 over the Cleveland Browns and the tradition continued the following season. The St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals took over as a host team for the Cowboys in 1975 and 1977 but Dallas was reinstated in 1978 and have had a permanent place on the holiday ever since.

Dallas has played 56 total games on Thanksgiving with a 33-22-1 record on the holiday entering 2024.

-Ayrton Ostly

Why isn’t Dak Prescott playing?

The Dallas Cowboys are continuing their long-time tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. For their 2024 game against the New York Giants, they will have to do so without their starting quarterback.

Dak Prescott will not be available to play on Thanksgiving. He is missing a fourth consecutive contest after he suffered a hamstring against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.

Instead, backup Cooper Rush will make a fourth consecutive start and look to earn back-to-back wins as Dallas looks to improbably claw its way back into the playoff race.

Prescott suffered a partial hamstring avulsion – a tear during which part of the tendon rips off the bone – during Dallas' 27-21 loss to the Falcons in Week 9. He told reporters after the contest that he wasn't sure if the injury occurred while he was running or being tackled.

-Jacob Camenker

When was the first NFL Thanksgiving game?

The Lions played the Bears in the first-ever Thanksgiving Day NFL game in 1934. The site was the University of Detroit Stadium with 26,000 people in attendance, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's believed that more people would've attended if the stadium capacity was larger.

George A. Richards, who bought the Portsmouth Spartans and moved them to Detroit in 1934, was looking to gain some traction in a town dominated by baseball's Tigers. The team then become known as the Lions but needed something to get the fans' attention.

So Richards went and scheduled a game on Thanksgiving against the defending champion Chicago Bears. Just like that, a tradition was born.

-Joseph Rivera, Nick Brinkerhoff

Tommy DeVito injury update

DeVito was a surprise add to the Giants' injury report on Tuesday, turning in a limited session. The quarterback is dealing with a forearm injury to his throwing arm, according to head coach Brian Daboll.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported that DeVito was not traveling with the team to Dallas, and that the Week 12 starter was "a longshot" to play against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. DeVito is currently listed as "questionable" for Thursday.

-Nick Brinkerhoff, Jack McKessy

Cowboys vs. Giants halftime performer

In recent years, Luke Combs and Dolly Parton graced the stage to commemorate the "Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show." This time, Dallas is set to welcome in another one of country music's biggest stars on Thanksgiving: Lainey Wilson.

The team announced the decision in October, naming the 32-year-old Louisiana native as this year's entertainer. In her signature bell-bottoms, Wilson appeared alongside the famous Cowboys' cheerleaders and teased a special guest would join her during the show.

"I am so excited to announce that I have teamed up with The Salvation Army to love beyond the holidays and make a difference in our communities all year round," she said in the video.

-Nick Brinkerhoff

Have any NFL teams never played on Thanksgiving? 

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only active franchise to have never played on Thanksgiving. Three teams have had one game on the holiday: the Carolina Panthers (2015), Cincinnati Bengals (2010), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006).

-Ayrton Ostly

Dallas Cowboys inactives 

• RB Deuce Vaughn

• G Zack Martin

• TE Jake Ferguson

• DE Marshawn Kneeland

• WR Ryan Flournoy

• CB Trevon Diggs

• CB Andrew Booth

New York Giants inactives 

• QB Tommy DeVito (emergency 3rd QB)

• TE Greg Dulcich

• CB Deonte Banks

• S Anthony Johnson

• CB Tre Hawkins III

• G Jake Kubas

• T Jermaine Eluemunor

What NFL team has played the most Thanksgiving games? 

The Lions have played 84 Thanksgiving games, the most of any team. They are 37-45-2 in those games. Considering they won't be relinquishing control of the NFL's tradition anytime soon, it's safe to say that they will continue to be Turkey Day's most featured team.

NFL draft 2025 order entering Week 13 

Here’s the first round of the 2025 NFL draft will stack up entering today’s games:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

2. New York Giants

3. Las Vegas Raiders

4. New England Patriots

5. Carolina Panthers

6. Tennessee Titans

7. New York Jets

8. Cleveland Browns

9. New Orleans Saints

10. Cincinnati Bengals

11. Dallas Cowboys

12. Chicago Bears

13. Indianapolis Colts

14. Miami Dolphins

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16. Los Angeles Rams

17. San Francisco 49ers

18. Arizona Cardinals

19. Atlanta Falcons

20. Seattle Seahawks

21. Washington Commanders

22. Houston Texans

23. Denver Broncos

24. Los Angeles Chargers

25. Baltimore Ravens

26. Pittsburgh Steelers

27. Green Bay Packers

28. Minnesota Vikings

29. Philadelphia Eagles

30. Buffalo Bills

31. Kansas City Chiefs

32. Detroit Lions

Full list of highest-paid NFL players 

Across all metrics, the top-10 highest paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Here's how the breakdown looks by AAV, guarantees, and total contract value this season.

AAV

• Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million

• Joe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million

• Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million

• Jordan Love, Packers: $55 million

• Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: $53.1 million

• Jared Goff, Lions: $53 million

• Justin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million

• Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $52 million

• Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million

• Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million

Guaranteed money

• Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $231 million

• Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million

• Joe Burrow, Bengals: $219.01 million

• Justin Herbert, Chargers: $218.74 million

• Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $200 million

• Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $185 million

• Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $179.4 million

• Jared Goff: $170.61 million

• Tua Tagovailoa: $167.17 million

• Jordan Love: $160.3 million

Total contract value

• Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $450 million

• Joe Burrow, Bengals: $275 million

• Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $275 million

• Justin Herbert, Chargers: $262.5 million

• Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $260 million

• Josh Allen, Bills: $258.04 million

• Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $255 million

• Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $240 million

• Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $230.5 million

• Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback by AAV at $35 million per year and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback by total value at $170 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys vs Giants highlights, score from Dallas' Thanksgiving win