Dallas Cowboys humble New York Giants in annual Thanksgiving Day game

ARLINGTON, Texas — The New York Giants got a reality check in their loss to the Detroit Lions four days earlier.

Now came the gut check.

Because despite all the optimism that surrounded Brian Daboll’s Giants for the first three months of the season, and rightfully so, given the best start for the franchise since 2008, they took the field inside AT&T Stadium for their clash on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys overwhelmed by a bunch of uncertainty.

Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. A short week of preparation off an emotional downer in their worst performance yet.

And the challenge of facing a Dallas team that was coming off its best showing in a while after putting 40 points on the 8-win Vikings on the road in a blowout victory.