Giants turn playoff hopes around
A big win over Dallas on Sunday put them on the inside track for the NFC East title.
ARLINGTON, Texas - Eli Manning was steaming. A simple screen pass was tipped, bounced off the shoulder of a linebacker and was intercepted, setting up a touchdown that could've buried the New York Giants, and the season.
Only, he wouldn't allow it.
Manning channeled his anger into energy, leading the Giants to two touchdowns in the final minutes to give New York a 37-34 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
"Sometimes I wish I was in that huddle so I could hear what's being said," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "He obviously made some great plays down the stretch."
Manning got a considerable assist from defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who put on a one-man show on defense in the win. The 22-year-old, known as JPP, registered a safety, forced a fumble, had two sacks, made eight tackles, and blocked a potential game-tying field goal as time elapsed.
"JPP single-handedly handled them today," Giants defensive back Antrel Rolle told reporters after the victory tied the Giants with Dallas for the NFC East lead.
Just like that, the Giants' four-game losing streak was done. And the NFC East race is wide open, with New York reclaiming the inside track.
"We knew what was on the line," Cowboys linebacker Bradie James said. "But those guys made one more play than we did."
Dallas has gone from winning four straight to losing two in a row, both in dramatic, frustrating fashion that involved missed kicks by rookie Dan Bailey, who'd been so good for so long this season. The Cowboys also lost running back DeMarco Murray to a broken right ankle, ending his record-setting rookie season.
"We certainly know we've got our work cut out for us," team owner Jerry Jones said.
Manning was 27 of 47 for 400 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third 400-yard outing this season, and the club racked up 510 yards, its most since having 512 in December 2009.
"This one's going to hurt, it's going to sting, but we've got to figure out how to do things a little better and play our best game of the season next week," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said. "We need to get a win next week and get back going."