New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys Match Player Stats On Sep 11, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 11, 2016

ARLINGTON, Texas –- Eli Manning threw three touchdowns to lead the New York Giants past the Dallas Cowboys 20-19 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

Manning's final scoring pass -- a 3-yarder to Victor Cruz in the fourth quarter -- proved to be the difference in the first of two meetings between the NFC East rivals.

The Giants also made a winner of first-year head coach Ben McAdoo -- the former offensive coordinator under previous coach Tom Coughlin – in his debut.

Dallas had won five consecutive games over the Giants, including a nail-biter in the opening game of the 2015 season. The Cowboys have lost 15 of the past 16 games in which starting quarterback Tony Romo was not available.

Manning shook off a third-quarter interception that led to Dallas' only touchdown to pass for 207 yards. He completed 19 of 28 attempts, using seven different receivers.

Rashad Jennings had 75 yards rushing for the Giants. Odell Beckham Jr. caught four passes for 73 yards.

New York's comeback spoiled an impressive introduction to pro football for Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. The rookies were given the keys to the Cowboys' offense, and didn't disappoint.

Prescott, a fourth-round pick, was pressed into action earlier than expected with the preseason injuries to Romo and backup Kellen Moore.

The former Mississippi State star completed 25 of 44 passes for 227 yards, and led the Cowboys to scores on their first three possessions. Each of the first two drives spanned 15 plays. Those drives ended in field goals, which would come back to haunt Dallas.

Elliott was expected to be a big cog in the attack as the fourth pick out of Ohio State. He carried the ball 20 times for 51 yards. The 2.5 average per rush wasn't special, but Elliott had the team's lone touchdown.

Jason Witten had nine catches for 66 yards for Dallas, with Cole Beasley snagging eight balls for 65 yards. Dez Bryant had only one catch for eight yards.

The game’s only turnover proved costly for the Giants, as Dallas cornerback Brandon Carr easily picked off Manning on the first possession of the third quarter.

Set up deep in New York territory, the Cowboys marched in for their and Elliott’s first score. The rookie scampered in from 8 yards out, giving Dallas as 16-13 edge.

The Giants regained the lead on a run-heavy 54-yard drive that ended with the short touchdown pass to Cruz with 6:13 left.

Prescott and the Cowboys got the ball back with 1:05 remaining. The game ended on a completion to Terrance Williams, who cut back toward the middle of the field instead of getting out of bounds with four seconds remaining.

Prescott was nearly perfect on his first career NFL possession. If not for a dropped pass by slot receiver Cole Beasley, which could have been a touchdown, Prescott completed 6 of 7 passes for 49 yards.

The drive stalled inside the New York 10-yard line, leading to a short field goal by Dan Bailey.

The Cowboys went up 6-0 on Bailey's 56-yard boot early in the second quarter.

After punts on their first two possessions, the Giants got on track and it didn't take long to get into the end zone. Manning hooked up with Beckham for 45 yards before finding Larry Donnell on a 15-yard score.

New York needed just 93 seconds to go 75 yards and lead 7-6.

The Giants took a 13-9 lead into the locker room on Manning’s 9-yard pass to Sterling Shepard with seven seconds left in the half. Randy Bullock missed the extra point.

NOTES: Dallas CB Orlando Scandrick (hamstring) and New York LB J.T. Thomas (knee) were lost in the first half. ... Dallas started a rookie quarterback (Dak Prescott) and running back (Ezekiel Elliott) for the first time in a season opener since 1969. … The Cowboys and Giants have met in the season opener five times. Dallas had won the previous four. ... Giants K Josh Brown served a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's conduct policy. … Cowboys DEs Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory began serving their NFL suspensions.