The Dallas Cowboys suffered a brutal 28-20 loss to their division rival, the New York Giants, in their season opener.
The Giants’ offense did what it wanted against Dallas’ new-look defense, and the Cowboys’ offense looked uncharacteristically slow.
But it wasn’t bad enough that Dallas lost the game, now they’ve also been hit with the biggest fine total of any team in the NFL from Week 1. Star running back Javonte Williams was dealt an $11,941 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting, edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku was hit with an $11,941 fine for unnecessary roughness/facemask, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown received a $9,527 fine for unnecessary roughness/late hit.
Williams scored a fourth-quarter touchdown and held the ball out toward Giants safety Tyler Nubin as he walked into the end zone. He was flagged on the spot, and the penalty pushed Dallas back far enough that they missed their extra-point attempt.
Ezeiruaku grabbed the facemask of a Giants player with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The penalty gave New York a fresh set of downs and let them bleed the clock late to close out the win.
Overshown, meanwhile, hit Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart late as he was scrambling out of bounds early in the first quarter. The 15-yard penalty extended a drive that ended with a Cam Skattebo touchdown.
That’s $33,409 in total fines in just the first week of action.
The Cowboys head into their Week 2 matchup against the Commanders needing a win. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s unit hadn’t played a real game together before facing the Giants, since the starters sat out the preseason, and it showed. They can’t afford a repeat performance against Jayden Daniels and company.
Dak Prescott, meanwhile, will be looking to get the offense off to a hot start and keep Washington’s defense honest against the Cowboys’ elite receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.