Dallas Cowboys 33 – New York Giants 20

Giants Embarrassed by Lowly Cowboys 33-20: The Giants lost a key NFC East game earlier today by being embarrassed by the Dallas Cowboys at home. With the defeat, the Giants fall to 6-3 and 1-1 in the NFC East.

The Giants actually out-gained the Cowboys in first downs, total net yards, net yards rushing, net yards passing, and held a huge advantage in time of possession. But three turnovers and big mistakes at crucial times of the game on offense, defense, and special teams sealed the Giants’ fate.

“We just didn’t come to play,” said HB Ahmad Bradshaw. “We had a lot of intensity last game versus the Cowboys, and we didn’t bring it to this game.”

“They came out to play,” said S Kenny Phillips. “We didn’t and we didn’t play well. We knew they would come out to play for their new coach. They had something to play for. It is like a new beginning for them. They did what they had to do, but we didn’t take care of our business. And that is why we lost.”

The Giants took a 3-0 lead on their second possession of the game as the Giants drove 55 yards in 10 plays to set up a successful 43-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes. But the Cowboys scored the game’s next 19 points.

The Cowboys went ahead for good on their second drive by quickly moving 71 yards in three plays. Dallas back-up quarterback Jon Kitna found WR Dez Bryant for 45 yard gain and on the very next play, Kitna hit Bryant for the 13-yard score. The extra point was blocked. Cowboys 6 – Giants 3.

The Giants went 3-and-out on their next possession. The Cowboys then drove the ball 60 yards in seven plays to set up a 22-yard field goal to gain a 9-3 advantage. On the drive, Kitna completed a 44-yard pass to WR Miles Austin.

Then came the truly devastating moment in the game. New York drove the ball from their own 40-yard line to the Dallas 2-yard line. Reserve offensive lineman Will Beatty was flagged with a false start on a 2nd-and-goal where HB Brandon Jacobs scored. After a gain of five yards on 2nd-and-7, QB Eli Manning’s 3rd-and-goal pass to WR Hakeem Nicks was picked off and returned 101 yards for a Cowboys’ touchdown. Dallas now was up 16-3.

“(Nicks) stopped to run the slant,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “You can’t do that. You have to continue to run the route, run through the defenders, do whatever you have to do. Unfortunately…that’s a basic principal. If you’ve got the slant called, you’ve got to run the slant. ”

The Giants then lost their composure on the ensuing possession with two penalties putting them in a 1st-and-25 hole from where they could not recover. P Matt Dodge got off a poor punt and Dallas started their next drive from the Giants’ 44-yard line. A 32-yard pass from Kitna to Martellus Bennett set up yet another field goal, this one from 23 yards out and the Cowboys led 19-3.

Late in the second quarter, the Giants did cut the lead to 19-6 as they drove 67 yards in seven plays to set up a 25-yard field goal by Tynes.

Dallas received the football to start the third quarter and immediately scored. Facing a 3rd-and-10, Kitna threw a short screen pass to HB Felix Jones that Jones turned into a 71-yard touchdown, out-racing the entire Giants’ defense. Cowboys 26 – Giants 6.

The Giants did respond with an 8-play, 58 yard touchdown drive, with Manning hitting WR Mario Manningham for a 5-yard score. But the Giants’ defense could not hold, allowing a quick, 5-play, 85-yard touchdown drive as Austin caught his second touchdown pass. Cowboys 33 – Giants 13.

Back came the Giants with a quick strike of their own as the Giants drove the ball 73 yards in two plays, with the help of a 35-yard pass interference penalty. Manning hit TE Kevin Boss for a 35 yard score. Cowboys 33 – Giants 20.

The Giants had a few of chances to make the game interesting in the fourth quarter, but came up small. First, after the Giants’ defense finally held. The Giants moved the ball from their own 20 to the Cowboys’ 42-yard line. But on 4th-and-1, Jacobs was stuffed and the Giants turned the football over on downs. The Giants got the ball back when S Deon Grant intercepted Kitna in the end zone. With less than 8 minutes to play, it looked like the Giants had cut the lead to six when Manning found Nicks for a 48-yard touchdown pass. But a holding penalty on reserve offensive lineman Kevin Boothe negated the play. On the very next snap, the Giants turned the football over as the Cowboys recovered a fumble at the Giants’ 21-yard line.

Still, the Giants were alive as the Cowboys missed a 34-yard field goal. With almost six minutes to play, down by 13, the Giants drove from their 25-yard line to the Dallas 17-yard line. But Manning’s 3rd-and-10 pass intended for Manningham was intercepted with just under three minutes to play. Ball game.

Post-Game Injury Update: WR Ramses Barden left the game with a sprained left ankle. He was on crutches wearing a boot after the game.

TE Kevin Boss injured his back lower back.

LB Jonathan Goff injured his elbow.

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were WR Steve Smith (pectoral), OC Shaun O’Hara (foot), OT David Diehl (hip/hamstring), FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), KR/PR Darius Reynaud (hamstring), DE Alex Hall, DT Linval Joseph, and LB Gerris Wilkinson (hand).