‘I Know Better Than That’: Javonte Williams Owns Costly Taunting Penalty In Dallas Cowboys Loss Against New York Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Dallas Cowboys planned to attempt a two-point conversion after Javonte Williams caught a 17-yard touchdown pass with 5:21 left Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Williams held the ball out toward a New York defender as he crossed the goal line untouched and drew a 15-yard taunting flag, enforced between downs. That took the two-point try off the board with Dallas trailing 28-20.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team had talked about discipline in its meeting that morning.

“Obviously, we have nine penalties, I think, including one of our most dependable players getting an unsportsmanlike conduct,” Schottenheimer said. “When we’re getting ready to try to go in for two and make it a one-score game, we’re going for the win. That’s not like Javonte.”

Asked directly whether Dallas was going for two, Schottenheimer said yes.

Brandon Aubrey kicked the extra point from 15 yards farther back instead and pushed it wide right. The New York Giants took the kickoff and ran out the final 5:21 while Dallas spent its last two timeouts, and the Cowboys never touched the ball again in a 28-20 loss.

Javonte Williams Takes Accountability For The Flag

Williams said he knew better.

“I’m a pro, I know better than that,” Williams said. “I’m gonna correct it. It is what it is. We just gonna move past it.”

Williams is one of 11 members of the Cowboys’ leadership council for 2026. He was not asked about the two-point plan, and he did not bring it up.

The touchdown drive covered 74 yards in 2:05 and turned on a New York penalty of its own. Safety Jevón Holland drew an unnecessary roughness call on a 17-yard catch by Ryan Flournoy, moving Dallas to the New York 17. Dak Prescott found Williams on the next snap.

Williams put the loss on the Cowboys themselves.

“It’s us versus us. It don’t matter who we play,” Williams said. “Self-inflicted wounds, penalties, things like that. That’s what cost us the game.”

Nine Penalties For 90 Yards

Dallas was flagged 9 times for 90 yards. New York was flagged 10 times for 114. Two of the Dallas penalties came on New York’s opening touchdown drive, a defensive offside on defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and a neutral zone infraction on linebacker Jaishawn Barham. A third, an unnecessary roughness call on linebacker DeMarvion Overshown for hitting Jaxson Dart out of bounds, added 15 yards to a 22-yard run on the same drive.

“Penalties kill your ability to win, especially the self-inflicted wounds,” Schottenheimer said. “We jumped offsides a couple times in short yardage situations, which we gave them free downs, if you will. That led to sustained drives. It led to them controlling the football. But it comes down to discipline, and we’re more disciplined than the way we played tonight.”

New York held the ball for 36:40 and ran 68 plays to Dallas’ 52.

The Dallas Cowboys’ Running Game Against The New York Giants

Williams carried 12 times for 41 yards and a touchdown, with a long of 8. He caught all 5 of his targets for 31 yards and the second score. Dallas rushed for 69 yards on 18 attempts as a team and averaged 3.8.

Schottenheimer said the Giants were in the backfield before Williams could get started.

“We needed to be better on offense in the first half,” Schottenheimer said. “I thought, again, they pushed us around a little bit up front. Their defensive line, our running game, there was way too much penetration early in the game. Javonte was running into freaking, you know, a wall in the beginning of the game. And we made some good adjustments at halftime. But it’s a team game. I said to the guys, we win together, we lose together.”

Williams gained 25 yards on 9 first-half carries. He had 16 on 3 after halftime and scored on both Dallas possessions of the second half, a 1-yard run with 37 seconds left in the third quarter and the 17-yard catch.

“Yeah, they played a great game. We just got to execute better next time we see them,” Williams said. “I feel like we could have started a little faster. We could have played better on both sides. It ain’t one side’s fault or the other side’s fault.”

Two Possessions, Two Touchdowns

Dallas had the ball twice in the second half and scored both times. The Cowboys held it for 8:27 after halftime while New York held it for 21:33.

“Yeah, they did a good job controlling the clock, milking the clock,” Williams said. “Good job to Skattebo, Dart, the whole offense. They played well. Defense played well also.”

Asked whether the long Giants drives made it hard to find a rhythm, Williams said they did.

“Yeah, kind of. You can say that, because you’re just sitting on the bench for a long time,” Williams said. “But like I said, it’s us versus us.”

Williams said the loss was useful.

“We needed that loss. It humbled us for sure,” Williams said. “We don’t expect to lose. Every time we go on the field, we expect to win. So losing the first game, losing period, it humbled us for sure. We know what our goal is in the end, and we’re just going to keep working towards it.”

Williams set career highs last season with 252 carries, 1,201 rushing yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns, adding 35 catches for 137 yards and 2 scores. He signed a three-year, $24 million extension in February that includes $16 million guaranteed.

Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.