| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Jim Fassel might have been aiming low when
he guaranteed that the New York Giants would make the playoffs.
|  | | Giants running back Tiki Barber had 80 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving Sunday, giving him a team-record 1,932 all-purpose yards. |
Not only is New York headed to the postseason, it could be the
NFC's top seed.
The Giants clinched their first NFC East title since 1997, which
was also the last time they made the playoffs, with a 17-13 victory
over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night that was more effective
than impressive.
If New York wins Saturday at home against Jacksonville, the
Giants will have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
"Maybe I understated myself," said Giants coach Fassel, whose
team would have a much better chance against dome teams such as
Minnesota or St. Louis outdoors in the Meadowlands in January.
The home-field path opened when the Vikings lost to Green Bay
Sunday. But New York (11-4) appeared to be throwing away its chance
to capitalize by playing a sloppy first half, and looked even worse
to start the third quarter.
But the Cowboys let their emotions get the best of them and the
Giants scored all of their points in the final 18 minutes. Kerry
Collins started it with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer,
and Tiki Barber added a 13-yard TD run following an interception by
Emmanuel McDaniel.
"We knew it didn't look pretty the first three quarters, but
the only thing that counts is the end of the game," Toomer said.
"This is the way to win a championship -- come back in the fourth
quarter and grind it out."
The Giants won for the fourth straight time since Fassel
uncharacteristically boasted, "This team is going to the
playoffs."
"It's part of the belief factor," Fassel said Sunday.
"Everyone on this team bought into it."
Dallas led 13-0 late in the third quarter and could have played
spoiler for a second straight game; it beat the Redskins last week.
Instead, the Cowboys (5-10) lost for the fourth time in five games.
Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban was ejected for kicking an
opponent during a pileup, one of four personal fouls against Dallas
in the second half.
"It did get out of hand," said Cowboys running back Emmitt
Smith, who had a 1-yard touchdown among his 46 yards. "If you're
going to fight someone, you've got four quarters to do it."
The Giants' slow start was mostly their fault. They marched
downfield on their first possession, had a field goal blocked for
their first miss in 11 games, then seemed to go into a shell.
New York punted the rest of the first half, then wasted two
great chances early in the third quarter. Fumble recoveries at the
Dallas 27 and 10 were wasted with another missed field goal and an
interception.
At halftime, Barber reminded the Giants that they could still
accomplish their goals and could even prove that they knew how to
come back to win.
"We needed to keep going and we needed some words," said
Barber, who ran 20 times for 80 yards and caught four passes for 47
yards, giving him a team-record 1,932 all-purpose yards.
"I felt it was my place and the guys took it to heart."
A 24-yard punt return by Barber set up the rally. Five plays
later, Collins threw a perfect pass to Toomer, who was uncovered,
to pull the Giants to 13-7 with 2:29 left.
McDaniel's interception deep in Dallas territory set up the
go-ahead score. On the next play, Barber tore around right end and
dove into the end zone.
Dallas quarterback Anthony Wright couldn't rally the hosts. He
made his first start in place of Troy Aikman, who sustained the
10th concussion of his career and second of the season last week.
Wright finished 13-of-25 for 119 yards and was sacked five
times, all in the second half.
"They began to figure out our protections," said Wright, who
ran four times for 26 yards.
"They did a job of finding a way to get to me."
Game notes
New York went 7-1 against the East and was 7-1 on the road.
That ties the team record for road wins, set when the 1930 squad
went 7-2. ... Smith needs 123 yards rushing to tie Barry Sanders
for second on the NFL career list. ... The Cowboys lost for the
fourth time in five games and went 3-5 at home after going 7-1 last
season.
| |
ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
NY Giants Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Aikman has shot at playing in Cowboys' season finale
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Troy Aikman Official Site
Emmitt Smith Official Site
Kerry Collins Official Site
|
