The Dallas Cowboys versus New York Giants rivalry has had many close games that came down to the final drive.
My favorite three Cowboys wins versus division rivals continues today with the last game of the Giants segment.
We have already covered the games I have ranked three and two, and you can read them by utilizing the following links.
For my favorite Cowboys versus Giants game, I take you back to the 1993 season.
The Emmitt Smith Shoulder Game
When: January 2, 1994
Where: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NY
Final Score: DAL 16, NYG 13
Back Story
The Dallas Cowboys were fresh off of the first Super Bowl win for the franchise since 1977.
They were aiming for a second straight appearance, but the Giants stood between them and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Dallas infamously began the 1993 season 0-2 after star RB Emmitt Smith held out of training camp and the first two games for a new contract.
The offense was anemic the first two games of the regular season.
Having seen enough, Owner/GM Jerry Jones caved and gave Smith the contract he wanted.
The Dallas offense returned to form, winning 11 of their next 13 games leading up to the showdown with the Giants.
New York matched the Cowboys’ 11-4 record heading into the final regular season game.
With a chance to clinch the NFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Giants laid an egg versus the Cardinals in Tempe the week before.
That set the stage for one of the biggest wins for the Cowboys in the rivalry’s history.
Game Summary
The Cowboys received the opening kickoff, but punted away after facing a 4th & inches near midfield.
QB Phil Simms and the Giants took over after a punt.
Simms hit a big throw over the middle of the field to his tight end into Dallas territory.
However, before being tackled, he was stripped of the ball by a heady play from CB Kevin Smith.
Dallas took over in their own territory.
Tough running by Emmitt and a short passing attack drove Dallas down the field.
The drive stalled inside the 10 yard line, and K Eddie Murray knocked a 30 yard field goal through the uprights for a 3-0 advantage.
New York started their next drive at the Cowboys 45 yard line after recovering a surprise onside kick attempt by Dallas.
The Giants couldn’t capitalize, actually losing seven yards on the drive before punting back to the Cowboys.
After a Cowboys punt, the Giants again could not move the ball, and punted back to Dallas.
Aikman and the Cowboys then embarked on their only touchdown drive of the day.
Two big pass plays to Irvin and Emmitt got Dallas into the red zone.
Head Coach Jimmy Johnson made his first big decision of the day by going for it on 4th & inches from inside the 10 yard line.
He was rewarded the next play when Emmitt got open and caught a pass from Aikman in the endzone from five yards out.
Now down 10-0, the Giants looked to get something going before the end of the half.
The drive started off promisingly, with two first downs on a catch by WR Chris Calloway followed by a big run by RB Rodney Hampton.
Now in Dallas territory for just the second time in the game, the drive stalled once again after a big 3rd down sack by Cowboys DE Tony Tolbert.
The ensuing punt pinned the Cowboys at their own 10 yard line with 3:25 left in the half.
On the second play of that drive came Emmitt’s iconic run.
He took a handoff on the right side, and sprinted down the field.
Emmitt was finally tackled at the Giants 36 yard line, but fell shoulder first onto the solid Giants Stadium turf.
He remained on the turf, writhing in pain.
Despite eventually walking off on his own power, everyone knew Emmitt was badly hurt.
What no one knew was just how much of a warrior he would prove to be for the rest of the game.
An Eddie Murray field goal ended the second quarter.
Up 13-0 at the half, the Cowboys dominated the Giants in all phases, but especially on defense.
Here are some first half Giants stats to show just how stingy the Cowboys defense was.
- First downs (2)
- Rush yards (32)
- Pass yards (36)
- Turnovers (1)
- Sacks (2)
- Time of possession (7:36)
To put this into perspective, Emmitt had 119 rushing yards in the first half, nearly doubling the entire Giants offense.
Second Half
Nothing changed on the Giants first possession of the second half.
After a 3 & out, the Dallas defense forced a punt that was partially blocked.
With the ball bouncing around, returner Kevin Williams attempted to scoop it up on the run, but fumbled it away.
That play proved to be a shift in momentum towards the Giants.
Taking over at the Cowboys 40 yard line, Simms and the offense eventually punched the ball into the endzone from one yard out.
New York cut the lead to 13-7, and within one possession. Now it’s a ball game.
Yards were hard to come by for the Cowboys in the second half.
Emmitt’s first run of the third quarter went for 12 yards, and showed he wasn’t afraid to carry the rock, despite his injured shoulder.
After another short run, Emmitt left the game for the rest of the drive, leading to a John Jett punt.
Simms, facing a 3rd & 13 from his own 47, hit a streaking Hampton with DE Charles Haley in coverage.
The 35 yard gain put the ball at the Dallas 18 yard line.
That drive ended with a field goal, bringing the Giants to within 13-10.
On the Cowboys’ next drive, they earned two first downs, but a big sack by Lawrence Taylor put them in a 3rd & 12 that they couldn’t convert.
Back to back sacks by Cowboys DE Jim Jeffcoat forced the Giants to punt on their next possession.
Aikman hit Irvin for a first down on just his third and final catch of the day, but the drive stalled once again.
The Giants took over after a punt, and drove down the field.
Powered by Hampton’s nine rushes for 43 yards, New York faced a 3rd & 2 from the Dallas 15 yard line with less than 30 seconds left in the game.
Cowboys S Darren Woodson made a text book open field tackle short of the first down marker.
The Giants field goal attempt was good with just 10 seconds left in regulation and the game now tied at 13.
One Aikman kneel down, and the game was sent into overtime.
Overtime
Regulation was a tale of two halves.
Dallas scored 13 points in the first half, with the Giants unable to stop Emmitt and the rushing attack.
New York scored 13 points in the second half, with the Cowboys unable to stop Hampton and the rushing attack.
With the momentum fully swung in the Giants’ favor, they won the coin toss and received the overtime kickoff.
Four straight runs by Hampton setup a 2nd & 7 for the Giants.
An illegal chop block set them back to 2nd & 22, and they couldn’t make up the difference.
New York punted the ball back to Dallas.
Starting the drive at the 25 yard line, Emmitt got four straight touches to move the ball up to the 45.
A tackle by Taylor on Emmitt’s right shoulder forced him to the sideline.
He returned two plays later, and immediately caught a pass inside the Giants 40 yard line.
On 3rd & 1, Emmitt again got the call, converting for a first down up to the 35.
The very next play was another handoff to Emmitt up the middle, and he gained 11 yards to the Giants 24.
Two more rushes by Emmitt, and Jimmy Johnson elected to send Eddie Murray out for a field goal attempt on 3rd down.
Giants Head Coach Dan Reeves attempted to ice Murray with a timeout, but his kick was successful.
Emmitt touched the ball on every single play he was in the game during overtime, and willed Dallas to a 16-13 victory.
Smith finished the game with 42 touches for 229 yards and a touchdown.
It was an absolutely legendary performance to give Dallas the NFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Season Results
As you already know, the Cowboys went on to cruise through the playoffs, and win their second straight Super Bowl.
This time by the score of 30-13, and sending the Buffalo Bills home with their fourth straight Super Bowl loss.
The 1993 season also spelled the end of the Jimmy Johnson era in Dallas.
After the Super Bowl win, Jerry and Jimmy announced they decided to “mutually” part ways, and break the hearts of Cowboys Nation.
The Giants went on to win a Wildcard game over the Minnesota Vikings.
Their season ended the next week as they were dismantled by the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round by the score of 44-3.