They Ain't Dead Yet: Giants Defeat Dallas, 31-24

The New York Giants know a thing or two about being resilient, as that was their running theme during their 2007 Super Bowl season. So it was no surprise that Tom Coughlin's Giants, with their backs pressed tightly against the wall, came out swinging on all ends to hand the Dallas Cowboys a huge 31-24 loss, a decision that reduced Dallas' NFC East lead to one game and puts the Giants right back into the thick of things regarding a playoff berth.
 
Although Dallas seemed to top the Giants in most every major statistical category, the big thing for New York was that they were able to shut down the Cowboy's rushing game, holding them to just 45 yards this time compared to the 251 yards they gave up back in Week 2's 33-31 win.
 
“I think guys just went out there collectively and had fun,” said DT Chris Canty. “Everyone wants to win on Sundays, but we wanted to win Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during our preparation, and I think that really paid off in this football game.”
 
On offense, the Giants put together 337 yards of offense and finally scored some touchdowns after going five quarters without doing so. Two of their scores came on back to back drives in the second quarter, as New York overcame a 10-0 Dallas lead on scores by Hakeem Nicks (21-yard touchdown) and RB Brandon Jacobs (1-yard rushing touchdown), which gave the Giants a 14-10 lead.
 
Dallas did take the lead again in the third quarter on a five-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Roy Williams which made is 17-14. But the Giants came right back with the knockout punch as Eli Manning hit Jacobs in the flat for a 74-yard touchdown pass, the longest play of Jacobs' career.
 
In the fourth quarter, Lawrence Tynes added a 23-yard field goal, and then it was the special teams' chance to contribute as Domenik Hixon returned a Mat McBriar punt 59 yards to give the Giants a 31-17 advantage.
 
Dallas would score just once more, a 22-yard touchdown pass from Romo to Monmouth College standout Miles Austin, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Giants' momentum.
 
The win boosts the Giants record to 7-5 and puts them a game behind Dallas for the NFC East lead. With Philadelphia, also 8-4, next up on the Giants schedule, the Giants will look to avenge their embarrassing 40-17 loss last month in hopes of evening the season series and gaining even more ground in the NFC playoff race.
 
“This is the way we are used to playing football,” said C Shaun O’Hara. “We need to just keep playing like this and remember what this feels like.”