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Dallas Cowboys Rally, Conquer Giants 31-28

By Vinnie Criscenzo

Nov 23, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) after their game at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) after their game at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants hosted the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in what was the second meeting of the year between the divisional rivals.

Does anyone really care about the game?  We all saw what Odell Beckham Jr. did.  Does it really matter what else happened?

Alright, fine.  Let’s talk about the game.

It was a very back and forth first half.  On the Giants’ opening possession, they put together a fluent drive and moved the ball efficiently.  It was capped off by a touchdown pass from Eli Manning to rookie Odell Beckham Jr.

The adjustments the Giants made to the offensive line seemed to be working, as Manning looked to be much more comfortable in the pocket.  The Giants were able to keep the Cowboys in check for much of the first quarter.  Dallas threatened late in the first quarter, but the Giants’ defense held their ground and forced Dallas to settle for a field goal.

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On the pursuing drive, it seemed like Giants weren’t able to find much room against the Cowboy’s defense.  That is until early in the second quarter.  Eli Manning threw up a pass to Odell Beckham Jr., who made his case for Catch Of The Year.  Beckham Jr. leaped in the air and almost bent in half, threw his right arm up and snatched the ball out of the air with three fingers and came down with an inconceivable 43-yard touchdown reception to put the Giants up 14-3.

Seriously, just go an admire that catch for a minute.  I’ll be here when you get back.

However, the Cowboys weren’t impressed.  They answered right back with a good drive of their own, ending with a Tony Romo 4-yard shovel pass to Jason Witten for a touchdown and putting the ‘Boys to within four.  The Giants’ received the ball back and answered right back with a score of their own in the form of a 3-yard touchdown run by Andre Williams.  The Giants’ had an opportunity to possibly extend the lead after Jason Pierre-Paul got to Tony Romo and forced a fumble, but penalties cost them and had to settle going into the second half with a 21-10 lead.

The second half was a completely different story.  Dallas came out of the gate and dominated play.  The Giants did a good job of getting pressure on Tony Romo in the first half, but not in the second.  Romo took advantage of a blitz that left Cole Beasley wide open for a 45-yard catch and run for a touchdown to put Dallas back within four.

After an almost mistake-free first half, the Giants seemed to fall back into the same mistakes they have been making all season.  In what should have been a routine throw to a wide open receiver, Eli Manning threw a high pass to Preston Parker which was tipped and intercepted by Barry Church.  The Cowboys made the Giants pay for their mistake shortly after, when Romo connected with Dez Bryant for a 31-yard touchdown pass that put the Cowboys up for the first time 24-21.

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    • It was quiet for most of the fourth quarter until the final minutes.  Despite the Giants mistakes and Odell Beckham Jr. getting banged up, they were able to retake the lead on a well-executed play action pass for a touchdown on the 1-yard line to tight end Adrien Robinson.  The Giants regained the lead 28-24.  The Cowboys would now need to march down the field and score a touchdown to stay in the game.

    Again, the Giants inability to get pressure on Romo burned them.  Romo had all day to find his receivers, and eventually connected with Dez Bryant for the second time on the night for a 13-yard touchdown.  Dallas took back the lead 31-28.  Eli Manning still had time to lead the Giants’ offense down the field and get in field goal range to force overtime.  The Giants faced a 4th and 2 and Manning completed a pass to Rashad Jennings who, at first look, seemed to have gained the first down.  However, after a booth review, Jennings forward progress was just short of the first down.  Game Over.  Cowboys win 31-28.

    It was a good effort by the New York Giants in what was basically a meaningless game for them except for personal pride.  However, they weren’t able to put together a full 60-minute game and the Dallas Cowboys capitalized on their mistakes.  A huge bright spot that comes out of this game for the Giants though is the play of Odell Beckham Jr.  This young man will be a superstar in this league.

    The Cowboys hold pace with the Philadelphia Eagles and move to 8-3 on the season and will face those same Eagles in Dallas next week in a pivotal game for first place in the division.  Those two teams will also meet again in Philadelphia in Week 15.  The Giants fall to 3-8 and will go down the Jacksonville next week to face the Jaguars.

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