Sunday evening, the Giants took control of their critical division game against the Cowboys -- and, perhaps, their season. Bolstered by running back Brandon Jacobs' 74-yard touchdown play and a 79-yard punt return from Domenik Hixon, the Giants fought their way to a 31-24 victory against Dallas at home.
With the win, the Giants (7-5) pulled within a half-game of the Cowboys (8-4) in the division standings, if the tiebreaker is factored in. The Eagles (8-4), who come to Giants Stadium next Sunday, are tied with Dallas atop the NFC East.
The Giants had led at the half, 14-10, after a pair of touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half. They had a chance to add to that lead when they came back out for the second half, but quarterback Eli Manning threw an interception in the end zone to Dallas cornerback Mike Jenkins.
Tony Romo hooked up with Roy Williams for a 5-yard touchdown pass -- his second to Williams over cornerback Corey Webster -- to give the Cowboys a brief 17-14 third-quarter lead, before Jacobs' second score of the evening.
The Cowboys had a chance to pull within one point early in the fourth quarter, but kicker Nick Folk missed a 42-yard field goal attempt. Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes would add to his team's lead with a 23-yard field goal.
The Giants first got on the board late in the second quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass to rookie Hakeem Nicks. Then, after the Cowboys got the ball back, defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka forced a fumble on a pass to running back Marion Barber, recovered by Osi Umenyiora. The Giants got the ball back at the Dallas 28-yard line and scored four plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run from Jacobs.
The Cowboys tried a 57-yard field goal as the half expired, but missed. As the teams ran off the field for the half, there was a large scuffle. Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams was called for a personal foul, but the penalty was declined.
The Cowboys controlled the ball for much of the first half (21:10 to the Giants' 8:50) and jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Both teams traded fruitless possessions before the Cowboys drove into scoring distance early in the second quarter, thanks in part to a 32-yard completion to tight end Jason Witten that bounced on and off the hands of Giants cornerback Bruce Johnson. Dallas ended that drive with a 34-yard field goal, after rookie linebacker Clint Sintim saved a touchdown with a 7-yard sack of quarterback Tony Romo on third-and-goal.
The Cowboys had a chance to pull within one point early in the fourth quarter, but kicker Nick Folk missed a 42-yard field goal attempt. Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes would add to his team's lead with a 23-yard field goal.
The Giants first got on the board late in the second quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass to rookie Hakeem Nicks. Then, after the Cowboys got the ball back, defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka forced a fumble on a pass to running back Marion Barber, recovered by Osi Umenyiora. The Giants got the ball back at the Dallas 28-yard line and scored four plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run from Jacobs.
The Cowboys tried a 57-yard field goal as the half expired, but missed. As the teams ran off the field for the half, there was a large scuffle. Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams was called for a personal foul, but the penalty was declined.
The Cowboys controlled the ball for much of the first half (21:10 to the Giants' 8:50) and jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Both teams traded fruitless possessions before the Cowboys drove into scoring distance early in the second quarter, thanks in part to a 32-yard completion to tight end Jason Witten that bounced on and off the hands of Giants cornerback Bruce Johnson. Dallas ended that drive with a 34-yard field goal, after rookie linebacker Clint Sintim saved a touchdown with a 7-yard sack of quarterback Tony Romo on third-and-goal.
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