No Romo, no defense, no heart equals no chance for Cowboys against Giants.
The whooping started early.
The whooping continued during the middle the game.
The whooping finished up late.
In between, to say that the Dallas Cowboys looked like a deer in headlights would be a complete insult to the deer. As Giants running backs ran around and through them, wide receivers slipped past them, and a defense that hurried, harassed and at the end of day, forced them to quit and look ahead to their bye week and if things continue, looking ahead to the golf course at the end of the season.
Even the final score did not do justice to the through thrashing that took place in the Giants 35-14 destruction of the Cowboys at Giants Stadium. With the win, the world champions pushed the record to 7-1 and have taken a three game lead in the loss column over Dallas (5-4), putting them out of their sight until further notice in the NFC East race.
The Giants were certainly playing a Cowboys team that was missing several key components. However, this is the NFL and there is no sympathy to be had here. From the opening kickoff, the world champions set out on a mandate systematically and cerebrally to dismantle them piece by piece. When it was over, they served notice to the rest of the league that last season’s playoff run was no fluke and this is 2008 version is far superior than the group that won Super Bowl XLII in Arizona.
Six minutes into the game, the rout was on. The offense, like clockwork, marched 75 yards in 11 plays, capped off by an Eli Manning 13 yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss in the right side of the end zone.
Dallas appeared to be moving into the red zone later in the quarter, but veteran (and Romo replacement) Brad Johnson had his pass intercepted by Corey Webster and returned 57 yards to the Cowboys 27 yard line. It took only five plays to punch it in as Manning found Steve Smith for his first NFL touchdown and quickly the score was 14-0.
Manning gave the Cowboys gifts on their next two possessions. First, on a third down play, the ball slipped out of his hands as he was setting up to throw and lost control of the ball with Dallas recovering on the Giants 16 yard line. However, it took only two plays for the Cowboys to turn it right back over as Terrell Owens had the ball stripped by linebacker Antonio Pierce on his way to the ground and the safety Michael Johnson recovered the fumble.
Once again, Manning (16 for 27 – 161 yards and 3 TD’s) allowed the Cowboys to gain life where miscommunication between him and receiver Plaxico Burress on a route lead to an interception by cornerback Mike Jenkins who returned It 23 yards for a touchdown.
The backbreaker came with 2:55 remaining in the half when Johnson through his second interception of the game on a wobbly pass that floated into the waiting hands of Webster again. From there, the Giants marched again and on third down and six, Manning found Amani Toomer for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 21-7 and any chance the Cowboys may have had were destroyed at halftime.
Statistically, the numbers were staggering. The Giants had 17 first downs, while Dallas only amassed three (they finished the game with 12). Johnson only completed five passes in the first half. Journeyman Brooks Bollinger came in from the bench at the start of the third quarter.
Before the game, it was suggested that if Bollinger got into the game that he may want to either have medical insurance or simply run like hell. On the second play of the third quarter and his first throw, he was intercepted by James Butler at his own 27-yard line and returned nine yards to the Dallas 19-yard line. It two plays for the Giants on offense to capitalize as Brandon Jacobs (17 carries – 117 yards) rumbled 12 yards for a touchdown to in essence, seal the game at 28-7.
Dallas finally scored early in the fourth quarter to make it 28-14. That was quickly answered by Derrick Ward’s 17-yard touchdown run to conclude the scoring. On the day, the offense gained exactly 200 yards.
All week, the Giants defense was intent on slowing down running back Marion Barber. They did it emphatically and almost completely. Barber only gained 54 yards on 19 carries. When the Cowboys offensive line could not create running lanes for Barber, they were under siege from the genius of Steve Spagnuolo and his defensive line that produced four sacks, 183 total yards, three interceptions and relentless pressure all afternoon. Incredibly, Dallas had 33 plays where they gained two yards or less.
In the end, there was no sympathy or remorse. Injuries are a part of the football and the Cowboys are on the receiving end of the bug. Perhaps in December when these two teams meet again, Dallas will make this game slightly more competitive.
For now, no “Get Well” cards were going to be sent by the Giants on this day.
The whooping started early.
The whooping continued during the middle the game.
The whooping finished up late.
In between, to say that the Dallas Cowboys looked like a deer in headlights would be a complete insult to the deer. As Giants running backs ran around and through them, wide receivers slipped past them, and a defense that hurried, harassed and at the end of day, forced them to quit and look ahead to their bye week and if things continue, looking ahead to the golf course at the end of the season.
Even the final score did not do justice to the through thrashing that took place in the Giants 35-14 destruction of the Cowboys at Giants Stadium. With the win, the world champions pushed the record to 7-1 and have taken a three game lead in the loss column over Dallas (5-4), putting them out of their sight until further notice in the NFC East race.
The Giants were certainly playing a Cowboys team that was missing several key components. However, this is the NFL and there is no sympathy to be had here. From the opening kickoff, the world champions set out on a mandate systematically and cerebrally to dismantle them piece by piece. When it was over, they served notice to the rest of the league that last season’s playoff run was no fluke and this is 2008 version is far superior than the group that won Super Bowl XLII in Arizona.
Six minutes into the game, the rout was on. The offense, like clockwork, marched 75 yards in 11 plays, capped off by an Eli Manning 13 yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss in the right side of the end zone.
Dallas appeared to be moving into the red zone later in the quarter, but veteran (and Romo replacement) Brad Johnson had his pass intercepted by Corey Webster and returned 57 yards to the Cowboys 27 yard line. It took only five plays to punch it in as Manning found Steve Smith for his first NFL touchdown and quickly the score was 14-0.
Manning gave the Cowboys gifts on their next two possessions. First, on a third down play, the ball slipped out of his hands as he was setting up to throw and lost control of the ball with Dallas recovering on the Giants 16 yard line. However, it took only two plays for the Cowboys to turn it right back over as Terrell Owens had the ball stripped by linebacker Antonio Pierce on his way to the ground and the safety Michael Johnson recovered the fumble.
Once again, Manning (16 for 27 – 161 yards and 3 TD’s) allowed the Cowboys to gain life where miscommunication between him and receiver Plaxico Burress on a route lead to an interception by cornerback Mike Jenkins who returned It 23 yards for a touchdown.
The backbreaker came with 2:55 remaining in the half when Johnson through his second interception of the game on a wobbly pass that floated into the waiting hands of Webster again. From there, the Giants marched again and on third down and six, Manning found Amani Toomer for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 21-7 and any chance the Cowboys may have had were destroyed at halftime.
Statistically, the numbers were staggering. The Giants had 17 first downs, while Dallas only amassed three (they finished the game with 12). Johnson only completed five passes in the first half. Journeyman Brooks Bollinger came in from the bench at the start of the third quarter.
Before the game, it was suggested that if Bollinger got into the game that he may want to either have medical insurance or simply run like hell. On the second play of the third quarter and his first throw, he was intercepted by James Butler at his own 27-yard line and returned nine yards to the Dallas 19-yard line. It two plays for the Giants on offense to capitalize as Brandon Jacobs (17 carries – 117 yards) rumbled 12 yards for a touchdown to in essence, seal the game at 28-7.
Dallas finally scored early in the fourth quarter to make it 28-14. That was quickly answered by Derrick Ward’s 17-yard touchdown run to conclude the scoring. On the day, the offense gained exactly 200 yards.
All week, the Giants defense was intent on slowing down running back Marion Barber. They did it emphatically and almost completely. Barber only gained 54 yards on 19 carries. When the Cowboys offensive line could not create running lanes for Barber, they were under siege from the genius of Steve Spagnuolo and his defensive line that produced four sacks, 183 total yards, three interceptions and relentless pressure all afternoon. Incredibly, Dallas had 33 plays where they gained two yards or less.
In the end, there was no sympathy or remorse. Injuries are a part of the football and the Cowboys are on the receiving end of the bug. Perhaps in December when these two teams meet again, Dallas will make this game slightly more competitive.
For now, no “Get Well” cards were going to be sent by the Giants on this day.
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