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Week 9 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 14, New York Giants 35
What you need to know
| Dallas Cowboys |
The Dallas Cowboys were thoroughly outplayed the entire game by the New York Giants. They only ran plays on the Giant side of the field on four possessions. A series that was an example of how poorly the offense operated occurred when Dallas got the ball on the Giant 16 following a turnover. Two plays later, Dallas gave the ball back when Terrell Owens was stripped of the ball immediately after catching it.
Brad Johnson got the start under center, but he was replaced at half time due to his ineffectiveness in moving the team. Johnson completed less than half of his passes and only threw for 71 yards during his half of work. It appeared on two separate occasions that Dallas was prepared to pull Johnson out of the game before halftime, but they decided to leave him in as the game was still reasonably close on the scoreboard.
The lack of a passing offense had a negative effect on the Cowboy rushing attack as the Giants had little trouble stopping the run. Marion Barber had little room to run as he was usually greeted by defensive linemen in the backfield before he could get going.
Terrell Owens was the only receiver who was able to have any type of success. Both quarterbacks looked to him often, but he was unable to get out into the open field where he could gain any type of yardage after hauling in the pass.
| New York Giants |
Eli Manning had little trouble in moving the Giants down the field against a Cowboy defense that was missing some key contributors in the backfield. Manning only had to throw 27 times as they were able to easily move the ball on the ground. The Giants outgained the Cowboys by over 130 yards and the score could have been a lot worse if not for two turnovers that led to all of Dallas' points.
The Giants relied on the two headed rushing attack of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward to control the clock and keep the Dallas defense on the field. The two backs together totaled 180 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns as they pounded away at the Cowboys front seven.
No single receiver had an outstanding game statistically as Manning spread the ball around to six different receivers, with three of them catching one touchdown pass apiece. Steve Smith was his favorite target during the first half, where he grabbed all five of his receptions.
What you ought to know
| QB Brooks Bollinger, Pass: 9 - 16 - 63 - 1 TD / 1 INT |
Bollinger started the second half in relief of an ineffective Brad Johnson and was only a slight improvement. His first pass attempt was intercepted and his second attempt was a completed for a loss of 12 yards. He never seemed to settle down and get into the flow of the game, as he was not able to complete more than two passes in a row. His throws were slightly off target, usually behind the receiver and he almost had a second interception on a poorly thrown pass. He did lead the Cowboys to their loan offensive touchdown, but that drive was aided by a roughing the passer call that gave the Cowboys a first down on third and six incompletion.
| QB Brad Johnson, Pass: 5 - 11 - 71 - 0 TD / 2 INT |
Brad Johnson got his third consecutive start in place of the injured Tony Romo and was only able to play one half before giving way to Brooks Bollinger. Johnson was hurt by his limited mobility in the pocket, poor decision making, and a weak throwing arm. He was sacked twice and was under pressure on numerous other times. His two interceptions were the direct result of poor decisions on his part as neither pass was close to being caught by the intended receiver. It was a slight surprise that Johnson was allowed to finish the first half as television cameras showed Bollinger getting ready to go into the game twice during the first half.
| RB Marion Barber, Rush: 19 - 54 - 0, Rec: 1 - -12 - 0 (1 targets) |
Barber did have some success running the ball in the first half with Brad Johnson under center, gaining 33 of his 54 yards. Unfortunately, 21 of those yards came on a single carry during the second quarter. That was one of the very few times that he was able to gain any significant yardage as he was usually met by at least one defensive player in the backfield. His only action in the receiving department was on a screen play in which the Giants successfully snuffed out the play and immediately tackled him for a 12 yard loss.
| RB Tashard Choice, Rush: 5 - 27 - 0 |
Choice did not see game action until the third quarter where he had two rushing attempts in relief of Marion Barber on the lone touchdown drive. He did see more action during the fourth quarter, after the Giants had scored their final touchdown as Dallas rested Barber during the later stages of the blowout.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rec: 5 - 36 - 1 (9 targets) |
Owens was limited due to poor quarterback play and excellent coverage by the Giant defense. He was well covered on most plays as the defenders were right there to bring him down immediately after catching the ball. His longest catch was his touchdown reception and was on one of the few occasions that he was able to find an opening in the defense.
| WR Patrick Crayton, Rec: 4 - 46 - 0 (8 targets) |
Patrick Crayton led the team in receiving yards with 46. He had little time to get open as his quarterbacks were usually under pressure, or they were unable to get the ball close enough to him where he had a good opportunity to make the catch. Crayton was usually the second option in the passing game as the Cowboys tried to get the ball to Terrell Owens.
| WR Roy Williams, Rec: 1 - 28 - 0 (2 targets) |
Roy Williams was the third receiver for the Cowboys and had the longest reception of the game on a great one handed catch along the left sideline during the first quarter.
| TE Martellus Bennett, Rec: 3 - 36 - 0 (4 targets) |
Bennett rotated in with injured tight end Jason Witten and managed three receptions. One of the receptions came on a tipped ball that was originally intended for Patrick Crayton. He is a hard runner to bring down after the catch and he fought for extra yards that got the team close to first down yardage on two of his receptions.
| TE Jason Witten (4 targets) |
Witten started the game despite having a broken rib, but was clearly limited as he was unable to catch any of the passes that were thrown in his direction.
| PK Nick Folk 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Folk did not attempt any field goals, but was perfect on his two extra point attempts.
| DAL Rush Defense |
The Cowboys rushing defense was unable to slow down any of the New York backs as they pounded the defense for a total of 200 yards and two touchdowns.
| DAL Pass Defense |
Eli Manning had a poor day against the Cowboys pass defense as they limited him to a total of 147 yards passing. They were able to sack him four times, caused two fumbles, and intercepted him once. The lone interception was returned for their only score during the first three quarters.
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 16 - 27 - 147 - 3 TD / 1 INT |
Manning didn't roll up big yards but he did lead a balanced attack to victory against a tough Dallas passing defense. He was not needed to try and win the game through the air as New York was able to easily move the ball on the ground. 126 of his 147 passing yards came during the first half as the Giants roared out to a 14 point lead at half time. His numbers could have been better if not for a dropped 17 yard touchdown pass by Plaxico Burress
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 17 - 117 - 1 (1 targets) |
Jacobs split time with Derrick Ward but was the most successful back in the offense. He ran with purpose and refused to be brought down easily. He did show the ability to make tacklers miss on a couple of runs during the second quarter. 11 of his 17 carries came in the first half as the Giants wore down the Cowboy defense by holding onto the ball for just over 20 minutes. During the second half he gained almost half of his total yardage against a defense that was clearly affected by the constant pounding by the two running backs.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 12 - 63 - 1, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (4 targets) |
Splitting time with Brandon Jacobs, Ward served as a change of pace back due to his pass catching ability out of the backfield. Ward shared duties with Jacobs in the first half, getting just less than half of the carries, but was given the bulk of the work during the fourth quarter as New York was putting the game away. He scored the final touchdown on a tough run on the right side of the field on the next play following Plaxico Burress' dropped touchdown reception.
| RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Rush: 5 - 20 - 0 |
Bradshaw saw extensive action during the fourth quarter after the final touchdown.
| RB Madison Hedgecock (1 targets) |
Hedgecock dropped a sure reception on the only pass thrown his way.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 5 - 29 - 1 (9 targets) |
Steve Smith did not start but was clearly Manning's favorite receiver during the first half. Manning and Smith seemed to be on the same page as they were able to connect for a first down on the opening drive and on two consecutive plays for a touchdown during the first quarter.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 3 - 34 - 0 (6 targets) |
Burress started, but appeared to be an afterthought in the passing game until the fourth quarter. During the first three quarters of action Burress only saw three passes thrown in his direction, all coming in the first half. This changed on the lone touchdown drive of the fourth quarter as he was targeted twice, but he dropped the second target which was a sure touchdown pass that was only thrown slightly behind him. This was one of two dropped passes, with another of targets being on the interception that was returned for a touchdown.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 2 - 26 - 1 (3 targets) |
Toomer made the most of his limited targets as he was able to gain either a first down or a touchdown on both of his receptions.
| WR Sinorice Moss, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (1 targets) |
Rotating in as the fourth receiver Moss caught his only pass for a short two yard gain during the third quarter.
| WR Domenik Hixon (1 targets) |
Hixon only saw one pass thrown in his direction during his limited time in the offense.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 3 - 30 - 1 (5 targets) |
Kevin Boss played a key role during the opening drive as he was involved on the first and last play of the drive. He proved to be a reliable target for Manning as the two seemed to be on the same page during the drive. After the initial drive he was rarely used as the Giants seemed to be content with running the ball.
| PK John Carney 0 - 0 FG, 5 - 5 XP, 5 points |
Carney did not attempt any field goals, but was a perfect five for five on extra points.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Giants rushing defense was excellent in holding Dallas backs to a total of 81 yards rushing. They were able to shut down Marion Barber, with the exception of two runs during the first half, as Dallas was unable to get any type of offense going.
| NYG Pass Defense |
Giants defenders were able to get pressure on the Dallas quarterbacks, sacking them four times. They also benefited from bad decision making on the part of both quarterbacks as they intercepted them three times on passes that the intended receiver did not have a chance to catch.