The New York Giants never do make it easy. After a two-possession deficit in the fourth quarter and a later meltdown on defense, Jason Pierre-Paul blocked a game-tying field goal to preserve a 37-34 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys that gave the Giants pole position in the race for the NFC East title.
Down 34-22 in the fourth quarter, Eli Manning led two touchdown drives that allowed the Giants to take the lead with under a minute left. Manning threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns on the night, and found Hakeem Nicks seven times for 154 yards, while Brandon Jacobs ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Giants needed that comeback after allowing two touchdowns to the Cowboys -- Tony Romo had four touchdown passes, and two in the final quarter -- and almost had to go to overtime, as Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey hit his first attempt at the game-tying field goal, only to have it nullified by a timeout.
Romo threw for 319 yards to go with his four scores.
The loss moved both teams to 7-6 on the year, but the Giants will host the Cowboys in the return match-up later this month, though they get a slightly tougher schedule than the Cowboys over the next two weeks. Dallas has the Buccaneers and Eagles before the season finale at MetLife Stadium, while New York meets the Redskins and Jets in the next two weeks.
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