So, the Giants, led by Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin, come through again, and the Cowboys stumble anew. Two statements can describe why the Giants won: one, no matter how good your second half defense is, if you give up 21 points to an excellent team in the first half you're probably going to lose, and two, Victor Cruz is a star.
Those two things, plus a slow start by injured Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, propelled the Giants to the victory and an NFC East championship. As I worried about in the preview, the Giants came out lit up and the Cowboys came out flat. Their defense had no answer to the Giants offense, and, despite finishing with a very good stat line, Romo had a tough time initially (understandable, as he had not taken a snap in a week). Giant coach Tom Coughlin had his team 100 percent ready to win, and Cowboy coach Jason Garrett did not match up. In the first quarter Cowboy cornerback Terrence Newman missed a key tackle that should have ended the drive, and later Victor Cruz had a 74 yard touchdown catch (again after a missed tackle by Newman). The second quarter also belonged to the Giants, with two more touchdowns put on the board and an intimidating 21 point lead going into the locker rooms at half.
The second half however was a different story. The Cowboy defense was ready to play, giving up no points in the third quarter. The offense put up a touchdown on good passing by Romo. Hope was kindled in Cowboy hearts. The defense was getting down to business and Romo was in a good rhythm, his hand appearing to be unbothered. The third quarter ended with the Cowboys down 21-7, but the momentum on their side.
The fourth quarter saw another Cowboy touchdown, putting real fear in Giants' fans. The Cowboys' five giveaway losses have been well documented this year, but less well documented was the fact that they won four games in which they trailed going into the fourth quarter. It appeared as though the Cowboys could be on their way to a fifth comeback win. Eli Manning and Victor Cruz however would have none of this. The Giants had made a field goal to stretch the lead to 10 points, the Cowboys were still very much in the game, but they needed another stop. On a 3rd down and seven play Manning scrambled, barely avoiding the sack, and managed to find a well covered Cruz, who made a spectacular catch against his body, 40 yards downfield for a huge first down. Later in the drive Manning connected with Cruz to give the Giants a first down and goal, before finishing it off with a four yard TD pass to UNC alum Hakeem Nicks.
This effectively ended the game. One spectacular play from a veteran QB to a young wide receiver almost cut by the Giants earlier this year.
This game provided a decent synopsis of the Cowboys' season, the initial hope, disappointment, more torturously lingering hope, but finally: anguishing defeat. They had so many chances to make the playoffs, but ultimately they couldn't come through. There was some important element missing, something the Giants had but the Cowboys lacked. Garrett, Romo and crew will spend another offseason searching for it.
For the Giants, the two best players of today's game were their two best players of the season. Eli Manning, who's had the best year of his career, and Victor Cruz, who set the Giant's single season record for receiving yards. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs and I wouldn't be surprised if they went far. The core group of their team has won a Super Bowl, and many elements (QB, RBs, wideouts, and defensive line) look very strong. Watch out for the Giants.
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