Behind Roger Staubach, the Dallas Cowboys owned the New York football Giants throughout much of the 1970s. They smacked the Giants around again in the mid-late 90s with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. But Big Blue has exacted revenge in recent years by spoiling the opening of the Cowboys' new stadium in 2009 and eliminating Dallas from the playoffs in 2007. In fact, the Giants have won six of the last eight meetings and four of the last five. Here's a look back at some recent history between the NFC East rivals, as they get set to clash for the NFC East division title on Sunday, January 1 (8:30 p.m. EST).
Giants 33, Cowboys 31 (Sept. 20, 2009) — In a game that featured eight lead changes, Lawrence Tynes booted a 37-yard field goal at the gun to spoil the Cowboys' home opener in their new stadium. Eli Manning shredded Dallas for 330 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of 22-yard strikes to Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined to rush for 220 yards and two touchdowns, but Tony Romo was terrible; he threw for only 127 yards and was intercepted three times.
Giants 31, Cowboys 24 (Dec. 6 2009) — The Giants blew up a close game with a pair of dynamite plays. Brandon Jacobs, who rushed for a one-yard TD 19 seconds before halftime, took a Manning pass 74 yards to the house late in the third quarter and Domenik Hixon hit pay dirt on a 79-yard punt return in the fourth to make it 31-17 for New York. Tony Romo threw for 392 yards and three touchdowns, including two short ones to Roy Williams, but the Giants completed a season sweep of the 'Boys for the first time in five years.
Giants 41, Cowboys 35 (Oct. 25, 2010) — Dez Bryant returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown to put the host Cowboys up 20-7, but the Giants stormed right back. Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith each caught touchdown passes from Manning in the second quarter, as the Giants took a 24-20 lead by halftime. It was all Giants in the third quarter, as Manningham added a touchdown grab and Jacobs rushed for a score to make it 38-20. Dez Bryant hauled in a pair of 15-yard touchdowns in the fourth.
Cowboys 33, Giants 20 (Nov. 14, 2010) — Bryan McCann rocked the Giants with a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown, as the visiting Cowboys raced out to a 19-3 lead in the first half. The Giants never recovered. John Kitna, who was subbing for an injured Tony Romo, passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard pass to Felix Jones in the third quarter to make it 26-6. Manningham and Kevin Boss caught window-dressing touchdown passes from Manning in the fourth.
Giants 37, Cowboys 34 (Dec. 11, 2011) — It's difficult to forget this one being that is was so recent. The Cowboys may never forget it. Manning led a pair of touchdown drives in a span of 3:13 late in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 400 yards passing and two touchdowns, including a 47-yard strike to Mario Manningham in the third quarter to make it 22-20 for the Giants. Jason Pierre-Paul, who has a pair of sacks, including a safety to open the scoring, blocked a potential game-tying field goal as time expired.
* Dallas leads the all-time series against the Giants 41-56-2, thanks in part to a 12-game winning streak against Big Blue from 1974-80. The Giants' longest winning streak against the Cowboys stands at six games; it stretched from 1988-90.
Adam Martini is a freelance sports writer who proudly wears his Rodney Hampton jersey on Sundays during the football season. He grew up in Queens, N.Y. rooting for the Giants despite being surrounded by Jets fans.
