It wasn't pretty in the first half, it wasn't easy until the 4th quarter, but when Eli Manning (E-Man) is involved, you have to feel good about your chances. The Cowboys beat the Giants 31-20 giving them a commanding 3-game lead in the NFC East as they moved to 8-1 on the season. The Cowboys scored right off the bat, effortlessly moving the ball down the field. The Giants answered back right away, and the Cowboys offense went stagnant, as Romo was under as much pressure as he has seen this year. The Giants eventually took a 14-10 lead with 4:33 to go in the 2nd quarter. From that point on, it was all Cowboys, as Romo marched the team down the field and scored on a 20-yarder to Patrick Crayton which included two missed tackles by the Giants which would likely would have forced a field goal.
The Cowboys were able to get consistent pressure on E-Man, sacking him 4 times and getting several good shots in just after he let go of the ball. Tank Johnson even got in the action in the 4th quarter getting a sack (though Eli appeared to have let the ball go), forcing a Giants punt with 9 minutes to go. For all the talk about the Giants vaunted pass rush, the Cowboys line did an excellent job in pass protection in the second half, and were once again aided by Romo's escapability. Another notable stat: Romo lost 6 yards on the two times he was sacked. Manning lost 34 yards for his 5 sacks. Romo gets back to the line of scrimmage and minimizes damage. He does the little things you need to win. Manning does the little things that make you lose. That's a huge difference.
E-Man decided to really help out the Cowboys with no less than three delay of game calls, including 2 consecutive ones in the red zone and another one in the final possession in which eventually led to a failed 4th down conversion late in the 4th quarter. How do you get a delay of game when you are down two scores with 4 minutes to play? How is that possible?
It's pretty clear watching this game that Giants were a paper tiger. After starting 0-2 losing to Dallas and Green Bay (understandable), the Giants beat two average NFC East teams Philadelphia (4-5) and Washington (5-4). Both were good wins. But then the Giants got on a roll vs. some of the worst in the league: Miami, San Francisco, Atlanta and the NY Jets. Combined record of those teams: 6-29. They're 6-3 now, but I think they are going to be in a dogfight to get into the playoffs.
Going back to the Cowboys, Romo had another terrific day completing 20-28 passes for 4 TDs against 1 ugly pick. Romo now has 23 TDs and 11 interceptions on the season, with 7 games to go. He should easily set the franchise single season record for touchdowns in a season (Danny White had 29 in 1983). He's on pace to throw for 40 touchdowns this season. He's unlikely to be playing a lot in late December, as the Cowboys will likely have clinched a first round bye by that point but it doesn't change the remarkable season he's having.
Terrell Owens led Cowboy receivers with 6 catches for 125 yards and 2 TDs. Hopefully the NFL will avoid levying ridiculous fines against him this week. The Giants largely held the Cowboys run game in check, stopping Julius Jones for 38 yards after his opening 20 yard run and Marion Barber to his 2nd lowest output of the year (34 yards on 12 carries). Terrance Newman and Pat Watkins intercepted Manning, while Chris Canty, DeMarcus Ware, Greg Ellis, Anthony Spencer and the Tank all got in on the sack party. That would be the 4 primary defensive ends and the newest member of the defensive tackle rotation. Greg Ellis now has 6.5 sacks in 6 games back since missing the first three games of the season, notching a sack in five out of six games he's played in. DeMarcus Ware's 8th sack was just one of his 10 tackles.
The team can now look ahead to playing four of their next five at home including the game of the year in the NFC on Thanksgiving against the Packers (which will be on the NFL network, so exactly 5 people will get to watch it). The stretch also includes divisional games against the Redskins and Eagles, as well as a matchup with 6-3 Detroit. They even get a pseudo-bye week sprinkled in there, playing the 1-8 NY Jets in week 12. The Cowboys close the season with road trips to Carolina and Washington, but should be on autopilot by that time. The Cowboys put an even stronger lock on the division with a win vs. the Redskins next week.
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