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Nearly everything was perfect for the national debut of Cowboys Stadium: a beautiful night with the roof and end-zone doors open; a list of dignitaries that included former President George W. Bush; and the re-induction of the Ring of Honor with most of the greats on hand for the ceremonies. And all in front of a regular-season record crowd of 105,121.
Nearly everything was perfect except the final score, the Giants coming away with a last-second 33-31 victory.
The Cowboys dominated on the ground, racking up 251 rushing yards, but were doomed by four turnovers, three interceptions and one fumble, which led to 24 Giants' points.
After pregame ceremonies that saw the roof open and the star at midfield unveiled, the Cowboys fittingly won the coin toss. Felix Jones then dropped back to take the Lawrence Tynes kickoff, grabbing the squib kick at his own seven and dancing up to the 23, a return of 16 yards.
Tony Romo immediately threw a swing pass to Marion Barber out of the backfield, who went around the left end for a short five yards. Barber then went up the middle for three more, setting up a third and two. Romo tried to go to tight end Martellus Bennett across the middle, but the attempt carried high. Out came Mat McBriar for his first punt, Domenik Hixon taking the 47-yard boot and breaking outside for what appeared to be a big gain. But an illegal block in the back call brought the ball all the way back to the Giants' 17.
Quarterback Eli Manning got things started for the visitors by rolling out to his left and finding wide receiver Steve Smith deep for a big 32-yard gain and a first down at the New York 49. He then hit Hixon on a quick slant for 13 more yards, which was followed by Brandon Jacobs getting his first carry of the night and picking up four. On the next, play Jacobs tried to go around the left end, but nose tackle Jay Ratliff broke through for the tackle, a five-yard loss.
Facing third and 11, Manning found an open Smith along the right sideline, the Giants moving 26 yards to set up a first and 10 at the Dallas 13. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick broke up a pass intended for Hixon with Jacobs then going around the right end for a one-yard gain. On third and nine, Manning tried to go back to Hixon, this time the play broken up by cornerback Mike Jenkins.
Out came Tynes for the field goal, his 30-yard effort good to give the Giants a 3-0 lead.
Jones took the kickoff from his own goal line and burst up the left side, pushed out of bounds at the Cowboys' 38-yard line. Jones then took a sweep around the right side for four yards, with Romo flipping a pass out to Witten for a short three-yard gain. On third and three, Romo hit running back Tashard Choice with a pass for the needed three yards and a first down.
A play-action pass to Witten on the left side brought eight yards with Barber then getting stopped inside for a loss of one. Choice went off left tackle, banging his way for five yards and a first down at the Giants' 40-yard line.
Barber broke through the middle and cut outside to his left, getting a nice block from Roy Williams for a 27-yard gain and a first and 10 at the New York 13. Romo then went to Bennett on the left sideline, the big tight end fighting his way to the two-yard line for a first and goal.
Barber did the rest, running in straight up the middle for the Cowboys first score. Nick Folk came on for the extra point, his kick good to give Dallas a 7-3 lead.
Sinorice Moss took David Buehler's kickoff at his own six and slipped up to the Giants 25. Anthony Spencer tipped a Manning pass headed for tight end Kevin Boss and nearly came away with the interception. Jacobs then powered up the middle, but was held to just two yards. On third and eight, Manning's arm was hit as he was throwing by linebacker DeMarcus Ware, bringing out Jeff Feagles for his first punt. Patrick Crayton called for the fair catch at the Dallas 24-yard line.
On the Cowboys' first play, the Giants returned the favor, Romo's pass batted away at the line of scrimmage. The quarterback then tried to hit Williams on a quick screen, the pass falling incomplete. On third and 10, Romo again went to Williams, but overthrew his target, Williams appearing to think the ball was headed to a receiver behind him.
Instead, the pass was intercepted by cornerback Bruce Johnson, who waltzed 34 yards into the end zone untouched for the touchdown. Tynes added the extra point and the lead was New York's again, 10-7.
Jones grabbed the kick at his own five and ran it out 23 yards but fumbled, the ball eventually recovered by the Giants' Bryan Kehl, giving New York possession at the Dallas 28.
Jacbos went off left tackle for six yards, which was followed by a timeout for the visitors. Jacobs got the call again and was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, no gain. On third and four, Manning hit Smith cutting across the middle, a reception of 15 yards and a first and goal at the six.
Jacobs was stopped after a one-yard pick-up as the first quarter came to an end. Ahmad Bradshaw then tried to break off right tackle, but was denied for a loss of seven yards. Manning threw out to Smith on the left sideline, but Jenkins was there for the quick stop a gain of only three yards. On came Tynes for the 28-yard field goal, his kick good to up the score to 13-7.
Again Jones dropped back for the Tynes kickoff, this time taking it as his nine out to the Dallas 27, a return of 18 yards. Barber went off right guard for nine yards, then churned out three more for the first down.
An offsides penalty on the Giants tacked on five more yards, but Barber was brought down for no gain on the next play. Manning then stepped up in the pocket and found wideout Miles Austin breaking up the middle for a nice 20-yard reception. A major facemask penalty was then called with 15 more yards tacked on at the end to give the Cowboys a first down at the Giants' 21.
Patrick Crayton took a reverse around the right end for a 20-yard pickup down to the New York one. Barber was stopped at the line for no gain, with the Giants calling timeout before the next play, only having 10 men on the field. Barber tried to dive over the top, but came up short. Romo then threaded one into his tight end Witten on the left side, Folk doing his duty to give the Cowboys the lead once more, 14-13.
Buehler's kick traveled into the end zone, Moss returning the kick out to his own 24-yard line. Bradshaw took a pitch from Manning and earned four yards with Manning then throwing a quick out to Mario Manningham, the receiver side-stepping Scandrick for a 14-yard gain and a first down at the 42.
With the pocket closing around him, Manning went back to Manningham for 15 more yards and a first down in Dallas territory at the 43. Another quick out was tried to Manningham, this time the Cowboys stopping him for a two-yard loss. Bradshaw went off left tackle for seven yards, setting up third and five. Manning tried to loft one down the left sideline to Manningham, but overshot his target, and out came Feagles for his second punt, the ball bouncing out of bounds at the Dallas five-yard line.
Romo tried to go to Witten on a curl route, the pass broken up, then Jones got stopped for no gain on a delayed handoff. Choice nearly broke outside for a big gain, but was tripped up after only three yards. Kicking out of his own end zone, McBriar boomed one 59 yards, Bradshaw taking the return back nine yards to give the Giants possession at their own 42.
Jacobs lost a yard on the first play of the series with Manning then finding Smith in the middle for a short five yards. Manning had Smith open across the middle of the field, but came up short on his throw, causing fourth down as the two-minute warning sounded. Feagles' 46-yard punt was taken by Crayton at his own eight, stepping out of bounds at the 12.
With time, Romo found a wide open Crayton deep down the left numbers for a 36-yard completion, but tackle Flozell Adams was called for tripping, the play instead marched back to the six-yard line. The Giants had to call their final timeout due to injury as Justin Tuck, the player tripped, hurt his shoulder on the play. He did not return to the game. Romo then went outside to Willliams, who broke free for 18 yards and first down.
Romo's pass to Crayton went just beyond the receiver's outstretched arms. A pass intended for Witten was bobbled, the play at first appearing to fall incomplete. But instant replay showed the ball never hit the ground, the tight end kicking the ball into the arms of safety Kenny Phillips. The play was blown dead, so although Phillips ran into the end zone, New York was given possession at the Dallas 28-yard line.
A quick slant to Manningham earned six yards, although Manning's next attempt was knocked down at the line of scrimmage by Marcus Spears. Manning then lofted one up to Manningham in the end zone, the receiver bobbling the ball, but coming down with it while laying on his back to secure the score. Tynes put the field goal through to give the visitors back the lead, 20-14.
With 40 second left, Austin went back for the kickoff, taking the ball at his five and darting up to the Dallas 34, a 29-yard return. A Romo to Witten transfer brought eight yards and the Cowboys' first timeout. Romo's next attempt was tipped at the line, falling incomplete, with Barber then plowing up the middle for three yards and a first down as Dallas called their second timeout.
At the Cowboys' 45-yard line with 21 seconds left, Romo stepped up and dumped off to Barber, who scampered all the way down to the Giants' 29, a gain of 26 yards. Now with 13 seconds on the clock, Romo went deep to Williams, the receiver almost making a circus catch, but the ball landing incomplete.
Now with six seconds left, out came Folk for a 47-yard attempt, his kick good to close the game to 20-17. Buehler squibbed his kickoff 23 yards, the Giants falling on it as the first half came to a close.
The final 30 minutes got underway with Buehler kicking to Moss, who took the ball from his three-yard line out to his own 18. Jacobs cut back for nine yards, then went around the left end, breaking tackles for a big 31-yard gain.
With first and 10 at the Cowboys' 42, Manning threw a quick out to Manningham, who sprinted for nine yards. He then handed off to Bradshaw who went off right tackle for 19 yards and a first down at the Dallas 14.
Bradshaw fought his way for three yards. Manning saw his pass to fullback Madison Hedgecock broken up by Keith Brooking, then almost saw his next attempt picked off by Bradie James. Out came Tynes for another field goal, but his kick sailed wide left no good, the score remaining 20-17.
Jones took the handoff and broke outside then up field for 24 yards, then grabbed the ball again, but managed only two. Romo threw to Bennett over the middle, but the ball was dropped with the quarterback then throwing quickly to Crayton in the flat, the play only going for four. McBriar came on for his third punt of the night, Bradshaw calling for the fair catch at his own six.
Jacobs went around the left end, but only found two yards, with Manning then rushed to throw out to his fullback Hedgecock, the pass no good. After a Giants timeout, on third and eight, Manning was forced to throw early, his pass missing his target. But a holding call on Bobby Carpenter gave New York five yards and an automatic first down.
Manning tried to go deep down the left sideline for Smith with pass interference called on Terence Newman, resulting in a 34-yard penalty, the Giants getting first and 10 at their own 47. Jacobs went up the middle for four yards, but was stopped for no gain on his next rush. On third and six, Manning connected with Manningham cutting across the middle, but the play only earned four yards. Feagles came on for the punt, Crayton calling for the fair catch at his own 16. A Romo pass to Jones fell incomplete, but Jones then took a handoff and broke off left tackle and sprinted all the way to the Giants' 27, a gain of 56 yards.
Barber went around the left end for 10 more yards and a first down before then going off left tackle for a pickup of 15 yards, giving Dallas a first and goal at the two. After Barber was dropped for a one-yard loss, Romo fired one to Crayton in the end zone, the ball going through the hands of his receiver. But Romo then took care of business himself, running a quarterback draw up the middle for the score. Folk's kick gave Dallas the lead again, 24-20.
Buehler's kickoff bounced through the back of the end zone, getting the Giants started at their own 20. Bradshaw's run went nowhere, and a scrambling Manning overthrew his target, Smith. A screen pass to Bradshaw added only six yards, Feagles coming out for the punt. The boot was shanked out of bounds at the Cowboys' 44.
Romo checked down to receiver Sam Hurd for seven yards, then handed off to Barber, who plowed ahead for three more and the first down. But Romo then aired one out, far overshooting Hurd, the safety Phillips there for the easy interception, his second of the night. The 22-yard return gave New York the ball at their own 27.
Manning tried to go deep himself and was able to connect with Manningham for a 49-yard completion and a first down at the Dallas 24 as the third quarter came to an end.
Jacobs went off left tackle for a short two yards, which was followed by Jacobs charging towards the right side for no gain. On third and eight, Manning found a wide open Smith over the middle, who easily stepped into the end zone for the score, giving New York back the advantage, 27-24, after the Tynes' add on.
An offsides call on the defense during the extra point was added on to the kickoff, so Jones took the ball from his own end zone, making it out to the 17. On the first snap of the possession, Jones took a pitch around the left end for three yards with Romo throwing incomplete on the next play. Romo then threw into double coverage to Crayton, the receiver unable to come down with the ball. McBriar's punt traveled 45 yards to Bradshaw, who returned it seven yards to his own 42.
Bradshaw's run on the next play lost a yard, but then Manning hit Manningham again for 25 yards and a first down at the Dallas 34. Back to Bradshaw, the back went off right tackle for 11 yards and a first down.
A run up the middle by Bradshaw netted only one yard with Jacobs then trying to go around the right end, but getting only two yards. On third and seven, a scrambling Manning dumped off to Smith, but the play only gained two yards. Out came Tynes for the 36-yard field goal, the kick good two push the score to 30-24.
After Jones took the kickoff back 19 yards to the Cowboys 29, Barber took the handoff up the middle for a quick 11 yards and a first down. A delayed handoff to Barber only found two yards with Romo then overthrowing his receiver, Williams. Facing third and eight, Romo found Witten on a curl over the middle for 13 yards and the first down.
Barber charged up the middle for three yards, then broke off left tackle for 35 yards and a first and goal at the seven. Barber appeared headed for the end zone, but pulled up with a leg injury. Jones then capped the drive, bouncing up the middle for the touchdown. Folk was good and the Cowboys had the lead again, 31-30.
Buehler boomed one into the end zone, Moss taking the kick out to his own 25. With 3:34 remaining, Manning dumped off to the tight end Boss for 17 yards, but a holding penalty negated the play and stepped the ball back 10 yards. Manning threw out to Bradshaw, but the play managed only four two yards.
Manning then connected with receiver Derek Hagan for a 12-yard gain, bringing up third and six as the two-minute warning sounded. A Manning to Hagan pass earned 12 yards out to the New York 40 for a first down.
Manning was unsuccessful on his next pass, but then found Boss on an out pattern to the right side for 13 yards and another first down, this time at the Dallas 47. The drive continued with a completion to Smith for six yards, although Manning overthrew Smith on the following attempt.
After Dallas called their first timeout, on third and four with 39 seconds left, the Cowboys tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage, but Manningham still came down with it for an eight-yard gain. Manning then went to Smith for 12 yards, the Giants calling timeout with 13 seconds left and the ball at the Cowboys 21.
Manning took a quarterback sneak for two yards, then called their final timeout with four seconds left. Tynes came in for the 37-yard field goal attempt, his kick appeared good, but Dallas called a timeout before the snap, so the play was redone. His second try went through the uprights as time expired, the Giants coming away with a 33-31 victory.
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