When the Cowboys were getting themselves in position for an overtime-forcing 64-yard field goal try, what was kicker Brandon Aubrey doing?
He was taking a page from the book of Stuart Smalley. And it worked.
“Just reminding myself that I’m built for this moment,” Aubrey told PFT by phone after the 40-37 overtime win. “‘You’re the best person on the planet to do this job, so go out there and make the kick.’”
Aubrey said that he tries to be “overconfident” in those moments. Given his performance, Aubrey seems to be properly confident. Because he’s an incredibly accurate kicker. With impressive range.
He’s not sure what that range is, but he said he hit today’s 64-yarder as well as he could. So he estimates he could make it from 70 or 71.
Someone is going to do it. It’s just a matter of time. And when the time comes, Aubrey could be the one to do it.
After watching Russell Wilson pass for 450 yards Sunday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced a signing postgame.
The Cowboys signed edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney before Sunday’s game, Jones said.
“He’ll add some real depth. He’s very credible. He’ll help us,” Jones said after the Cowboys’ 40-37 overtime victory over the Giants, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com.
The Cowboys had two sacks of Wilson after one sack of Jalen Hurts in Week 1. Micah Parsons, who the Cowboys traded to the Packers before the season, has 1.5 sacks in limited action.
Wilson went 30-of-41 for 450 yards and three touchdowns, and the Giants gained 506 yards.
Clowney, 32, visited the Cowboys on Wednesday.
He has never had a double-digit sack season but has 58 since the Texans made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2014. Clowney’s three Pro Bowls came with the Texans in 2016-18. He also has played for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens and Panthers.
Dak Prescott entered Sunday having owned the Giants. He had won 13 in a row, with his last loss to New York coming 3,199 days ago.
He had thrown for 3,523 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions in those games.
Prescott made it 14 in a row Sunday but not without a comeback . . . or two.
The Cowboys beat the Giants 40-37 on the last play of overtime on a 46-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey. It gave Brian Schottenheimer his first victory as a head coach.
The Cowboys are 1-1 and the Giants 0-2.
In one of the most entertaining games of the season, the teams combined for 77 points and 984 yards.
The teams combined for 41 points and five lead changes in the fourth quarter, including 24 points in the final 2:44 of regulation. Wan’Dale Robinson caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson with 2:44 left to give the Giants a 30-27 lead.
The Cowboys answered with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to George Pickens to regain the lead for Dallas at 34-30 with 52 seconds left. It was too much time for the Giants, who got a 48-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Malik Nabers with 25 seconds remaining.
That was too much time for Aubrey, who hit a 64-yard field goal on the final play to send it to overtime.
The Cowboys had three possessions in overtime and the Giants two. It was Donovan Wilson’s pick of Russell Wilson at the Dallas 30 at the 2-minute warning of overtime that gave the Cowboys a final chance.
Prescott drove them 42 yards in four plays, escaping a sack at the Giants 42 and scrambling for a 14-yard gain. That set up Aubrey’s game-winner.
Prescott was 38-of-52 for 361 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Javonte Williams ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and CeeDee Lamb caught nine passes for 112 yards.
The Giants outgained the Cowboys 506 to 478 but had 14 penalties for 160 yards and went only 1-for-5 in the red zone. Wilson looked like vintage Wilson, going 30-of-41 for 450 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Robinson caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown and Malik Nabers had nine receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Cowboys returner/wide receiver Ka’Vontae Turpin has 11 touches today, but he might be done.
Turpin is questionable to return with a neck injury.
He went out after a 29-yard kickoff return, which was negated by a holding penalty, with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. His replacement, Jalen Tolbert, fumbled the next kickoff return but recovered it.
Turpin was a big part of the Cowboys’ plan, with four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown, two rushes for 6 yards, a punt return for 2 yards and four kickoff returns for 100 yards.
The Giants have lost inside linebacker Darius Muasau, who was ruled out with a concussion in the third quarter. Muasau was playing for Micah McFadden, who is on injured reserve with a foot injury.
The Giants have taken a 23-20 lead on Cam Skattebo’s 1-yard touchdown run with 12:07 remaining in the game.
The Cowboys have gone from dragging feet to writing checks.
Since trading linebacker Micah Parsons in lieu of paying him, the Cowboys have given new deals to multiple young players. First, cornerback DaRon Bland. More recently, guard Tyler Smith.
We’ve gotten the full breakdown of the new four-year extension, which puts Smith under contract for six years.
Here’s a look at the full terms of the contract, per a source with knowledge of the deal:
1. Signing bonus: $16.4 million, paid in full within 15 days.
2. 2025 base salary: $1.038 million, fully guaranteed.
3. 2026 base salary: $22 million, fully guaranteed.
4. 2026 per-game active roster bonus: $1 million total, fully guaranteed but must be earned.
5. 2027 base salary: $11 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026.
6. 2027 per-game active roster bonus: $1 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026 (but must be earned).
7. 2028 base salary: $18 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.
8. 2028 per-game active roster bonus: $1 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027 (but must be earned).
9. 2029 base salary: $23 million, $8 million of which is guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2028.
10. 2029 per-game active roster bonus: $1 million total, guaranteed for injury and fully guaranteed in March 2028.
11. 2030 base salary: $22 million.
12. 2030 per-game active roster bonus: $1 million total.
The new-money average is $24 million. The total value of the six-year deal at signing, factoring in Smith’s four-year salary and fifth-year option, is $19.943 million.
The deal includes $41.661 million fully guaranteed at signing. By 2026, the full guarantee moves to $53.661 million. As of 2027, it’s $72.661 million.
Regarding the guarantees, the Cowboys did not insist on their standard default language based simply on a fine for on-field violations. Dallas has insisted on that over the past 10 years, making exceptions only for quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb, defensive end Tyrone Crawford, and now Smith.
The deal also has no salary de-escalators based on not participating in the voluntary offseason program.
