Instant Analysis: Giants fall to Cowboys, 20-15

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

The Giants were down two cornerbacks (Dru Phillips and Adoree’ Jackson) due to injury but got another one back in Nick McCloud, who started in the slot after missing the previous two weeks with a knee injury. Cor’Dale Flott, meanwhile, started on the outside opposite Deonte Banks.

Dak Prescott completed his first 14 of 16 passes for 164 yards and two first-half touchdowns, including a 55-yarder to CeeDee Lamb.

A week after they became the fourth team to have nine different players record at least half a sack in the same game since 1982, the Giants got to Prescott just once. Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux took him down in a two-minute drill situation to end the first half, where the Giants were outscored 54-0 in their two meetings with the Cowboys last season. On Thursday night, they trailed 14-9 heading into the locker room.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Greg Joseph kicked for the second consecutive week after the Giants placed Graham Gano on injured reserve. The veteran made all five of his field goal attempts on Thursday night, including a long of 52 yards early in the game. Joseph missed his lone field goal attempt last week in his Giants debut.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half but luckily the ball shot right into the hands of Giants tight end Chris Manhertz. The Giants weren’t so lucky last week when Eric Gray lost a fumble on the first play of the game.

The Giants didn’t punt until 2:57 left in the third quarter.

DAL: LB Micah Parsons (neck), DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), CB Trevon Diggs (dehydration)

NYG: WR Malik Nabers (concussion)

DAL: S Markquese Bell (ankle), CB Caelen Carson (shoulder), T Matt Waletzko, WR Ryan Flournoy, TE John Stephens, DE Tyrus Wheat, QB Trey Lance (3rd)

NYG: CB Adoree’ Jackson (calf), CB Dru Phillips (calf), S Anthony Johnson, OLB Benton Whitley, OLB Boogie Basham, G Jake Kubas, QB Tommy DeVito (3rd)

DAL: The Cowboys elevated defensive end Carl Lawson and defensive back Amani Oruwariye from the practice squad on Thursday.

NYG: Over the short week, the Giants signed linebacker Ty Summers to the active roster, placed tight end Lawrence Cager on the practice squad/injured list, and added tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson and tight end Joel Wilson to the practice squad. On Thursday, they activated Johnson and cornerback Duke Shelley (standard elevation) for Week 4.