How Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning could look at themselves in the mirror on Monday morning only they know.
Jason Witten snagged two touchdown receptions to power the Dallas Cowboys past the New York Giants 27-26 on Sunday night. Witten's final, deciding grab came with seven seconds left on the clock.
What happened? Eli Manning decided to throw the ball away on a 3rd-and-Goal with a minute and a half left. It cost the Giants the contest. Manning called the play-action and rolled right. When nothing came open, rather than sit on the turf and let the clock bleed, the two-time Super Bowl champion threw the ball into camera row in the back of the end zone.
Thereby stopping the clock. Which was all Tony Romo needed.
Dallas took over following Josh Brown's kick and, after a pair of gainers to Lance Dunbar for 24 and 16 yards, Jason Witten caught to the Giants 19. Terrance Williams snagged another heading out of bounds with 13 seconds left to set up Witten's go-ahead grab on the goal line.
Witten walked off the field with his fifth-career multiple reception appearance for the Cowboys, and his third against the Giants.
"My fault at the end of the game," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Nobody to blame but me. Decision to throw the ball on third down was not a good decision."
Stat(s) of the night: The Giants matched their entire 2014 season tally for defensive touchdowns in their 2015 season opener. Their offense, however, could use some work. New York had all of 117 yards through three quarters and struggled to estabish anything much on offense during the game. Eli Manning only got over 100 yards passing in the third quarter and didn't register a touchdown.
How did it happen? Through what became a massive regroup for the Cowboys' offense. That rhythm took hold initially on the game's first possession, a 17-play, 79 yard plunder on the part of Tony Romo, but that was hunkered down in the red area by poor throws and penalties. It would be long, indeed, before the Cowboys would sniff paydirt again, and it would come by some controversy: what looked to be an incorrect pass interference call against Giants corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie preceded a touchdown to Gavin Escobar from 2 yards in the third quarter.
DRC returned a fumble for a touchdown and New York corner Trumaine McBride grabbed the remants of a pass for Cowboys catcher Devin Street for what looked to be a touchdown, but was called back following a review. Rashad Jennings rushed for a 10-point New York lead from the remaining yard.
MVP: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. His composure in the deciding minute of the game earned the result for Dallas. He finished 36-of-45 for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 80 percent of his passes on the night, mostly short gainers here and there through what remains of the Giants secondary group, working underneath to tailbacks and ends mostly.
Dare we say he was clutch? We dare. Sunday night's comeback was the 28th of his career since 2006, two more than Peyton Manning.
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