Big D: Giants' defense leads team over Cowboys

Oct 24, 2006, 4:15 GMT

Irving, TX - Tiki Barber had 146 all-purpose yards, and the New York defense tortured Dallas with six sacks, four interceptions and a touchdown as the Giants easily bested the Cowboys, 36-22.

The win marked the first time in franchise history that the Giants (4-2) beat the Cowboys (3-3) on Monday night at Texas Stadium.

Barber, who indicated his plans to retire after the season earlier this week, had 114 yards rushing and another 32 receiving for the Giants, who won their third straight game and took over first place in the NFC East.

The dynamic running back is now just 60 receiving yards away from joining Marcus Allen and Marshall Faulk as the only players in NFL history with 9,000 career rushing yards and 5,000 receiving.

Eli Manning threw for 189 yards and tossed a pair of touchdowns while Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey each caught TD passes for New York. Michael Strahan notched two of the Giants' six sacks to tie the legendary Lawrence Taylor for the franchise record with 132 1/2 in his career.

'This was a big win,' said Strahan, whose club improved to 3-0 in the division. 'We have a lot of talent and when we play our game, we should win anywhere.'

Drew Bledsoe completed 7-of-12 passes for 112 yards with an interception for the Cowboys before being benched for ineffectiveness in the third quarter. Tony Romo took over and was not much better The fourth-year pro connected on 14-of-25 passes for 227 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

'I don't fell good about the performance,' Romo said. 'My job is to help the team win and I wasn't able to do it. Hopefully, I can do better next week.'

'That was a real bad performance out there,' said Dallas head coach Bill Parcells. 'Too many mistakes. Not taking care of the ball. They outplayed us and outcoached us. I'm ashamed to put a team out there that plays like that.'

New York assumed command from the start. The Giants took the opening kickoff and stunned the Cowboys with a quick five-play, 74-yard drive. Manning capped the march and silenced the raucous crowd by finding Burress for a 50-yard TD. The enigmatic, 6-foot-5 receiver easily went over Pat Watkins to haul in the ball and make it 7-0 with less than three minutes gone in the game.

New York extended its advantage late in the first quarter with a safety. After Jeff Feagles pinned the Cowboys back at their own one-foot line with a spectacular 54-yard punt, LaVar Arrington burst through the line on a blitz to sack Bledsoe in the end zone for his first career safety.

The Giants continued to dominate into the second quarter and stretched their lead to 12-0 on a 31-yard Jay Feely field goal with 11:51 left before intermission. Burress set up the kick with a beautiful over the shoulder catch that netted New York 44 yards.

The Cowboys finally awoke midway through the second thanks to a heavy dose of Terrell Owens. The controversial star hauled in receptions of 31 and 17 yards on a 10-play,80-yard TD drive that brought Dallas to within 12-7 with 3:51 left in half. Owens also drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone to set up the slow-footed Bledsoe's surprising one-yard bootleg for the score.

Dallas was quickly back in business thanks to its defense and DeMarcus Ware. On the first play of the Giants' ensuing possession, the second-year player knocked Barber loopy with a forearm smash to the helmet. The blow caused a fumble and Bradie James was there to recover it at the Giants 14-yard line.

The Cowboys couldn't convert, however. With the ball at the New York four, Bledsoe threw an awful pass on an out pattern by Terry Glenn. Sam Madison jumped the route and intercepted the ball enabling the Giants to take their 12-7 edge into the locker room.

The unforced error angered Parcells who lifted Bledsoe and started Romo in the third quarter but the move backfired badly. On the team's first play, Romo rolled out and tried to throw but Strahan tipped the ball in the air and Antonio Pierce was there to make the interception and return it to the Dallas 14. Three plays later Manning hit Shockey with a 13-yard strike to make it a 19-7 game with 14:01 left in the third quarter.

Romo settled down on the next Cowboys possession and managed to guide his team to the New York 32 before facing a 4th-and-2 situation. Romo found a wide open Owens but the high maintenance receiver dropped a sure first down, giving the ball back to the Giants.

New York then really put the pressure on with a time consuming 14-play drive. Brandon Jacobs finished things by rumbling in from the three-yard line on a 4th-and-inches play. The TD run gave the Giants a commanding 26-7 lead with 1:26 remaining in the third.

Romo did not give in, however. The fourth year pro capped an impressive 75- yard march by finding Owens for an eight-yard score. Romo then completed a two-point conversion with a quarterback draw to make it a 26-15 affair with 13:01 left in the game.

Feely's second field goal of the game, a 32-yarder with 3:54 remaining, made it 29-15 and Kevin Dockery then capped the scoring for the Giants with a 96- yard interception return just over a minute later.

Romo's 53-yard TD pass, on a deep slant to Patrick Crayton, accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Arrington tore his right Achilles tendon in the second quarter and the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker will need surgery and will miss the rest of the Giants' season.

Barber has been the Giants leading rusher in 70 consecutive games, an NFL record. This was his 34th career game with 100 yards rushing.

The Cowboys still lead the all-time series with the Giants by an impressive 51-35-2 count.

The Giants have won 15 consecutive road games when taking the lead into the fourth quarter.

Manning has won seven of his past eight games as a starter versus NFC East foes.

The Cowboys were trying to set a new NFL record for career wins on Monday night. They remained tied with Miami with 39 MNF wins.

© 2006 The Sports Network