FRISCO, Texas — There is not a lot at stake in Week 18 for both the Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) or the New York Giants (3-13) when the 2 NFC East rivals sq. off at MetLife Stadium within the 2025 season finale for each squads.
For Dallas, Dak Prescott is trying to develop into the primary Cowboys quarterback to steer the NFL in passing yards in a single season. He has 4,482 yards passing by way of 17 weeks, which is 34 yards forward of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and his complete of 4,448.
“It would be cool to stamp that, simply lead the league in passing. I believe Matt Stafford in all probability must relaxation this week, prepare for the playoffs. That may assist,” Prescott stated with a smile on Thursday. “It would be cool, however I am simply taking part in the sport. I am not going to attempt to chase it. I am not going on the market like ‘let me throw it each time. It might be the alternative of that proper? Simply attempting to play a sensible recreation, a clear recreation. Most significantly, get a win. The report will come if they arrive.”
In the meantime, the Giants might be considerably incentivized to lose on Sunday as a result of a New York loss plus a Las Vegas Raiders win towards the Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas Metropolis Chiefs would grant them the primary general choose within the 2026 NFL Draft. Tanking is almost inconceivable to implement within the NFL with so many gamers taking part in for his or her soccer lives on a week-to-week foundation given the non-guaranteed nature of a lot of the league’s contracts.
Each groups might be taking part in with the skeleton crew variations of their roster on Sunday. Dallas might be with out the next gamers: working again Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck), working again Malik Davis (calf/eye), guard T.J. Bass (knee), linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (concussion) and cornerback Shavon Revel (concussion/neck). New York might be with out the next gamers: defensive again Cor’Dale Flott (knee), security Jevon Holland (knee/concussion), tight finish Theo Johnson (sickness), offensive lineman Evan Neal (neck), defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (ankle/toe) and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (knee).
The place to look at Giants vs. Cowboys stay
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 4 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo (strive at no cost)
- Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
- Odds: Cowboys -3.5, O/U 49.5 (through DraftKings Sportsbook)
Cowboys vs. Giants: Have to know
How a lot will Dak Prescott play and the way a lot will Joe Milton play?
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s method to taking part in Prescott on the tail finish of one other playoff-less season in Dallas the final two weeks has been alongside the traces of “we’re taking part in to win, so Dak is taking part in the entire recreation.” Now that it is Week 18, and the Cowboys are taking part in in a 1 p.m. ET recreation on Sunday afternoon, Schottenheimer admitted he is open to giving strong-armed backup Joe Milton a while at quarterback this week towards the Giants.
“We’ll have a look at that. The largest factor for me is to place the sport plan collectively and hopefully have one other nice week of follow and give attention to getting our prep. You understand how a lot respect I’ve for this staff, this protection we’re on the brink of play, an elite entrance seven,” Schottenheimer stated on Monday. “However yeah, we’ll see how the week goes. However proper now the plan is to play Dak.”
Even Prescott acknowledged there’s an opportunity he might not end the sport on Sunday, which ends up in the 32-year-old, four-time Professional Bowl quarterback having a barely totally different course of getting into Week 18.
“To some extent, yeah. I would be mendacity if I stated ‘it is precisely the identical,'” Prescott stated when speaking about taking part in in a recreation however understanding he’ll possible not end the sport. “No, there’s slightly bit to it. It is extra of similar to ‘when [when will I be pulled]?’ So for me, it is about going on the market and planning to play the entire recreation. Simply persist with the way in which that I play the sport. I am not going to do an excessive amount of early and make some large performs so I can get out of the sport. … Not understanding when it’s [the time he will be pulled] and whether it is [going to happen], simply go in, play my recreation and be sensible.”
The 25-year-old Milton has 4 video games of NFL expertise in two seasons, together with a Week 18 begin within the New England Patriots 2024 common season finale a yr in the past. He feels rather more superior by way of each his expertise and his soccer IQ getting into his possible alternative to play on Sunday.
“Simply be prepared,” Milton stated Friday. “I believe that was the plan each week. Coming right here was a distinct standing for me. Once I say standing, I imply it is a totally different gameplan. I get extra reps than I did after I was on the Patriots final yr. I moved up within the NFL stage so far as the quarterback positions and so far as my information.”
Might Week 18 be a turning level for Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue?
With each Williams and Davis dominated out with accidents, rookie fifth-round choose working again Jaydon Blue may have an opportunity to have his greatest quantity recreation of the season. The speedster out of the College of Texas has performed in 4 video games this season and amassed 65 yards speeding on 22 carries. A fumble in Dallas’ 44-24 Week 8 highway loss on the Denver Broncos spelled a cease in his play time with Blue not touching the sector since.
Cowboys vp of participant personnel Will McClay banged the desk for Blue within the draft, and he used the adjective “explosive” 5 occasions to explain him on draft day.
“I would like to get eyes on Jaydon. I believe the final couple of weeks have been good weeks for him,” Schottenheimer stated on Monday. “He is practising tougher and higher. I believe if he continues on that path, there’s undoubtedly an opportunity.”
Will three-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns placed on a present vs. depleted Cowboys offensive line?
Cleveland Browns All-Professional edge rusher Myles Garrett’s 22.0 sacks this season are so distant from the remainder of his competitors that there was no actual race for who was going to steer the NFL in sacks in 2025. Nevertheless, New York Giants three-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns is No. 2 within the league in that statistic with a career-high 16.5 this season, a determine that’s tied for the fourth-most in a season in Giants historical past.
Dallas dealing with him proper now may result in Burns having a monster recreation and making a push for 20 sacks. The Cowboys allowed a season-high six sacks towards the Washington Commanders in Week 17, and their offensive line is much more depleted this week. Left deal with Tyler Guyton (ankle) stays on injured reserve. In response to that damage, Dallas moved three-time Professional Bowl left guard Tyler Smith out to left deal with for the final three video games of the season and put undrafted veteran T.J. Bass at left guard. Bass (knee) did not follow all week, and he was dominated out on Friday. Cowboys proper deal with Terence Steele’s 44 quarterback pressures allowed this season are tied for the second-most within the NFL, only one behind Las Vegas Raiders offensive deal with DJ Glaze’s 45, in response to TruMedia.
Sunday might be a large day for Burns, particularly if Milton performs nearly all of the afternoon instead of Prescott.
Giants vs. Cowboys prediction
Prescott plays just long enough for the Cowboys to jump out to a multi-possession lead, and Dallas hangs on to avoid a losing record and finish the season at 8-8-1 while New York secures a top 2 draft pick in 2026 at 3-14.
Pick: Cowboys 24, Giants 21 | (Giants +3.5, Under 49.5)
