ARLINGTON, Texas – Nothing, not a one in the previous 999 games in Dallas Cowboys franchise history, could have faintly resembled this one.
But on the 1,000th game in Cowboys history here Sunday afternoon against the New York Football Giants at AT&T Stadium, never, ever have the Cowboys lost a game so many times, won the game so many times, or have been on the precipice of finishing tied in a game for the first time since 1969.
Yet when what was left of the 92,781 emotionally drained people departing here – since some certainly left somewhat early because the Cowboys had this one wrapped up with 52 seconds left in regulation or left because they had given up with 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter with blood pressure borderline critical – they must have been muttering, "In all my born days …" And must admit in this being my 42nd season covering these rascals through thick and thin, through 1-15 and three franchise-best seasons of 13-3, I was right there with them.
But for those who could stand it, those figuring they had better stay to the bitter end. Or maybe even worse, one the equivalent of kissing their sister after 70 game-time minutes, they were awarded with …
Cowboys 40, Giants 37 as the final seconds of overtime ticked off the clock.
Insane.
You kidding me? The Cowboys and first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer narrowly averted an 0-2 or very nearly 0-1-1 start to this season and his coaching career.
"I was really good coming off the field," a hoarse Schottenheimer said of his emotions immediately after the win, "and then when Dak [Prescott] presented me, he and Jerry presented me with the game ball, that was pretty special for me. Cool way to win your first game.
"You know, you'll remember it forever, but the words that Dak and the players said to me after the game is why it's so special."
And likely even more special with a nod to his mom Pat, considering she missed this rare occasion, falling at the airport on Friday with intentions of flying here for this game, suffering a broken arm.
For sure, he darn well will remember this since he came, oh, so close to leaving here 0-2, not only in this 2025 season but also in the NFC East after starting his coaching career with a 24-20 loss to the Eagles just 10 days ago.
But with the heroes this day, and there were many, could have written this entire column about any number of guys. Let's start with a few not to be forgotten in this game's mayhem.
How 'bout the guy too many people wrote off as insignificant, that being running back Javonte Williams. He rushed for 97 yards on just 18 carries and recorded his third touchdown in two games, this one from 30 yards out. You realize the Cowboys have not had a rushing touchdown of at least 30 yards since 2022 when Tony Pollard ran one in from 30 on Dec. 4 against Indianapolis while also producing touchdown runs of 54 and 57 yards that season. Been that long.
Or the guy most everyone was all over for his critical drops against the Eagles in the opener. CeeDee Lamb had a resurgent performance, posting nine catches for his second consecutive 100-yard receiving effort (112), even when the Giants (0-2) were insisting on doubling him.
Guess no one will be asking George Pickens if he's needing more targets, catching five passes for 68 yards and a honey of a touchdown grab from 6 yards out to give what so many probably believed to be the game-winner. The Cowboys were then up, 34-30, with what turned out to be those precious 52 seconds left.
Don't forget KaVontae Turpin with four receptions for 47 yards and the Cowboys' first touchdown of the game from 10 yards out. He also added another 108 yards in runs, punt returns and kickoff returns for a grand total of 155 yards before noticeably leaving the game with a neck injury not expected to be overly serious.
Oh, and as preposterous as this might seem with a defense giving up 37 points, 506 total yards, including 450 of them to Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, three touchdowns and a QB rating of 123.0, with the game in overtime on the line, safety Donovan Wilson intercepts a Russell Wilson desperation heave under pressure from Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams to give the Cowboys an unheard of third overtime possession with just two minutes left in the tied game.
And give thanks to Dak, who had 361 yards passing despite getting sacked three times, was hit six more times and needed to run out three times, most importantly the 14-yarder in overtime to set up the game-winner. Do you realize Prescott directed an 11-play, 71-yard drive to give the Cowboys the 34-30 lead with 52 seconds left? The one the defense managed to squander 27 seconds later. Then in a mere 20 seconds after falling behind 37-34, he got the Cowboys close enough for the game-tying field. And in overtime, he managed that two-minute drive expertly into field-goal range for the game-winner.
But now – yes, for goodness sakes about time, apologies for burying the lead – the guy who stole the show from that renaissance passing performance by the Giants' 36-year-old quarterback (and there should be some music playing now) …
Ta-da, Brandon Aubrey.
Never was "Butter" so sweet.
Think about this: The best clutch kicker in the NFL already had hit on fields goals from 51 and 44 yards out, no problem. But now, with the Cowboys trailing by three, sitting at second-and-6 at the Giants' 46-yard line with five seconds remaining in regulation, enter Aubrey, so eloquently nicknamed Butter previously by Dak.
Now look, just picture this: The Cowboys' Trent Sieg would be snapping the ball to holder Bryan Anger, who was going to place the ball down on the other side of the 50-yard line, at his own 46. No joke.
You guys, we're talking a 64-yard field goal attempt. Game on the line. Everyone in the place is screaming. And at the time I was recalling during pregame warmups, his final attempt of all his warmups he had made up to that point, was way good from 58 yards. No problem, since the ball hit high on up on the protective net, nearly 10 yards past the crossbar. I'm thinking his range on this Sunday is probably 70 yards.
So was Schotty.
Knew Aubrey had the leg strength. But what about the nerve to hit it, with apologies to the late former Dallas-Fort Worth writer Dan Jenkins, Dead, Solid, Perfect? Man, did he ever, overtime baby, nailing the third-longest field goal in NFL history. And also know he owns the second longest at 65 yards, but a yard shy of Baltimore's Justin Tucker, who has the longest at 66.
Big deal?
"Hopefully, I've got what they need, and they trust me. You can see the ball probably was good for six or seven more yards, so probably got a little bit more in there," Aubrey said.
What I tell you?
And then on the Cowboys' third possession of overtime, almost unheard of in the 10-minute extra time, here comes Aubrey again. The Cowboys ran the clock down to four seconds, asking the third-year kicker who came into the NFL out of the USFL after a short-term pro soccer career, to attempt a field goal from 46 yards out.
Aubery trots out, the fans are screaming his name, making me think, from this point on, when he enters for a field goal attempt, he needs, like they do in baseball for a batter coming to the plate or a relief pitcher coming in to save the game, some walk-up music.
"The crowd really brings me alive, so it's great to hear," which if you know Aubrey, that's a mouthful for him to say.
Well, if that's the case, maybe coming to mind at that point something like playing "Wild Thing" from Major League.
Can you just imagine the pressure? The amount of concentration needed. Many a kicker wilts in this very scenario. You got only 18 feet, 6 inches of width to play with. And let me tell you, if you ever stood on the 36-yard line and looked at those uprights 10 more yards into the end zone, tell you what, the further back you get the narrower they seem.
Not for our final hero of this most improbable finish to an NFL game, the kick is up … and mighty good.
Money. On-field pandemonium.
Think about this: Aubrey finished with a grand total of 205 yards worth of field goals. Can you say NFC Special Teams Player of the Week!
"So I have a job to put the ball through the uprights," Aubrey said. "They have a line that they want to get to, and they've got to find any way possible to get there. And they did it over and over again."
For such a spectacular moment in a spectacular finish, sounding pretty much, well, let Aubrey finish the thought:
"Ho-hum."
Well, yeah, but No. 1,000 was anything but.
