Despite
the New York Giants playing poorly on offense the defense stepped up and helped
the Giants pull out a 29-24 victory and stay undefeated at the Dallas Cowboy
Stadium. The Giants are 4-0 in Cowboy stadium and have now pulled away to stand
on top alone of the NFC East.
The
Giants defense is getting back to that championship caliber play that helped
them win the Superbowl. The defense grabbed three interceptions in the first
half and took a commanding 23-0 lead until the Cowboys scored a touchdown with
5:22 remaining in the first half.
Stevie
Brown grabbed two interceptions. One of those came in the fourth quarter that
should have sealed the deal for the Giants victory but the offense gave the ball
right back to the Cowboys setting up what would be a fight to the last second
of the game. Jason Pierre-Paul had a sack and an interception for a touchdown
that put the Giants up 23-0. Corey Webster also had an interception.
Chris
Canty being back in the defense made all the difference the past two games.
Canty is a huge presence in the center and that makes it harder to double team
the outside. Canty was able to get to Tony Romo and disrupt his offensive play.
Canty had two tackles, one sack and disrupted a number of pass attempts. Linval
Joesph also had two sacks.
The
Giants defense also had two fumble recoveries. One fumble came on a Felix Jones
run when the Cowboys were driving down the field trying to increase their lead
after they took a 24-23 lead. The other fumble recovery came on a punt return
by Dez Bryant.
The defense did allow Romo to have big plays
in the air and gave up 437 yards. The defense also allowed the Cowboys to come
back and take the lead in the third quarter.
The
Giants have been stopping the run games of their opponents and only allowed the
Cowboys to have 19 yards rushing.
The
Giants collapsed in the second half and were only able to score two field goals
in the fourth quarter. Fortunately that was all they needed to get the victory
and become 6-2.
Eli
Manning did not have a good game completing only 15 of his 29 pass attempts for
192 yards and one interception. Only one wide receiver had over 50 receiving
yards and that was rookie Rueben Randle. Randle had two catches for 68 yards.
Hakeem Nicks had the second most receiving yards with four catches for 46
yards.
The
rushing game did not do much better with Ahmad Bradshaw having 22 carries for
78 yards and Andre Brown with three carries for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Steve
Weatherford had to punt the ball six times and Lawrence Tynes kicked and made
five field goals sealing the victory for the Giants.
The
Giants only converted three of 15 third downs and in the fourth quarter the
Giants couldn’t convert on third down setting up an exciting finish to this
game.
The
Cowboys got the ball back with less than a minute remaining in the game. The
defense allowed the Cowboys to get close enough to convert a touchdown pass and
if it was not for Dez Bryant’s fingers landing out of bounds in the end zone
the Giants would not have won this game.
On the
last play of the game Osi Umenyoria was able to flush Romo out of the pocket
and this caused Romo to throw the ball too high and out of reach of any of the
wide receivers ending the game.
The Giants sit comfortably on top of the NFC East at 6-2 and next up they have the Pittsburg Steelers. The Giants offense had an off game and will play better against the Steelers. If the defense continues to play the way they have the last two games the Steelers won’t be able to get their offense going and if the Giants offense is able to move down they field they will walk away with a victory.
