Dallas changed coordinators and personnel, but its Week 1 defensive numbers against the Giants looked disturbingly similar — and sometimes worse — than 2025.

FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys spent the offseason trying to repair one of the NFL’s worst defenses, but their 28-20 season-opening loss to the New York Giants provided little evidence that the renovation is complete.

If anything, Christian Parker’s first game as defensive coordinator looked uncomfortably familiar.

Dallas surrendered 394 total yards, exceeding its 2025 average of 377 yards allowed per game. The Cowboys permitted 28 points after finishing last season dead last in the NFL at 30.1 points allowed per game.

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Technically, that’s improvement.

Practically, there wasn’t much to celebrate.

The biggest problem was third down.

New York converted nine of 11 attempts, an astonishing 81.8 percent success rate. Dallas allowed opponents to convert 41.1 percent of third downs last season, making Sunday night’s performance dramatically worse than an already shaky 2025 baseline.

That inability to get off the field helped New York control possession for 36 minutes, 40 seconds, limiting Dallas to only two offensive possessions in the second half.

The run defense was another warning sign.

Dallas surrendered approximately 125.5 rushing yards per game last season. The Giants generated 165, including 81 from Cam Skattebo and another 54 from quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The passing-yardage number looked better.

Dallas allowed 229 net passing yards compared with 251.5 per game in 2025. But that statistic hides how efficiently Dart attacked the Cowboys.

The Giants quarterback completed 23 of 29 passes – 79.3 percent – for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He consistently found openings while also using his legs when Dallas lost contain.

Even Dallas’ standard four-man pass rush struggled. Dart completed 17 of 19 attempts for 200 yards and two scores when the Cowboys rushed four, while Dallas generated little consistent pressure.

There were positives.

Rookie Caleb Downs recorded Dallas’ only sack and forced a fumble, providing a glimpse of why the Cowboys were excited about adding him to the defense.

But one promising debut couldn’t disguise the larger issues.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the performance afterward.

“They were the more physical team tonight,” Schottenheimer said, adding that Dallas’ overall performance was “pretty poor.”

MORE: Cowboys Get Bullied by Giants: Week 1 Disaster Raises Big Red Flags

It’s only one game, and Parker deserves time to install his system.

But after Week 1, the verdict is difficult to avoid.

The personnel may be better. The results look about the same. And on third down, Dallas was significantly worse.

That’s not the defensive reset the Cowboys envisioned.