After wrapping up the top three wins in Dallas Cowboys history versus the Washington franchise, the next team on the list is the New York Giants.
The Cowboys and Giants have a storied rivalry with so many good and bad memories both recent and historic.
From Aikman versus Simms to Romo versus Manning, there have been so many great matchups in the 122 games they’ve played.
For today’s matchup, and the third ranked on my top three list, we go back to the 2010 season.
Cowboys Win For Jason Garrett
When: November 14, 2010
Where: New Meadowlands Stadium
Final Score: DAL 33, NYG 20
Back Story
The 2010 season was a tough year to endure as a Cowboys fan.
Expectations were sky high after the previous season ended with a Divisional round loss to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.
The 2009 season featured nine Pro Bowl and five All-Pro players from the Cowboys roster.
Tony Romo was in his prime, and poised to build on the first playoff win of his career.
Dallas defeated the rival Philadelphia Eagles in the Wildcard round of 2009.
However, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Romo was lost for the season due to a broken collarbone suffered against these same Giants in Week 7 at AT&T Stadium.
It was just injury added to insult, however, as the Cowboys record sat at 1-4 with a fully healthy Romo.
The Cowboys lost that Giants game, and also lost the ensuing two games.
Head Coach Wade Phillips was relieved of his duties after a 45-7 shellacking at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Cowboys’ brass believed that Phillips had lost the team based on the lack of effort in Green Bay.
On another note, Wade Phillips if you’re reading this, why do you have me blocked on Twitter?
Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett was promoted to interim head coach, and his first test was rallying the troops versus the Giants at the Meadowlands.
For the Giants, the 2010 season was a polar opposite of what the Cowboys endured.
Entering the November matchup versus Dallas, the Giants record stood at 6-2.
They were riding a five game winning streak, including an impressive 41-7 win at Seattle the week before.
Having just defeated Dallas in the brand new AT&T Stadium two weeks prior, they didn’t view the 1-7 Romo-less Cowboys as a threat.
Game Summary
After exchanging punts on each of the first two drives, the Giants drew first blood with a field goal by Lawrence Tynes for a 3-0 lead.
Without Tony Romo, the Cowboys were instead led by veteran Jon Kitna.
Kitna seemed to have a rapport with then rookie Dez Bryant.
That rapport was put on display by connecting with him twice for 58 yards on Dallas’ first touchdown drive.
After a big 45 yard completion to Dez, Kitna hit him again from 13 yards out.
It was one of the most incredible touchdown catches of his career.
Bryant initially bobbled the ball, but maintained possession by trapping it to his helmet and shoulder pad all while maintaining his feet in bounds.
It was initially ruled an incomplete pass, but Jason Garrett was successful in the first challenge of his head coaching career.
David Buehler’s extra point attempt was blocked, giving Dallas a 6-3 lead.
The Cowboys added another field goal to go up 9-3 before a long drive by Eli Manning and the Giants offense.
Facing a 3rd & goal from the two yard line, Manning tried to throw a slant that was read perfectly by rookie CB Bryan McCann.
McCann made the interception and returned it 101 yards to the endzone, giving Dallas the 16-3 lead.
A field goal by each team ended the half with Dallas leading 19-6.
The Cowboys received the 2nd half kickoff.
On a 3rd & 10 play, Garrett dialed up a screen that RB Felix Jones took 71 yards to the house.
Down 26-6, Manning and the Giants answered with their first touchdown of the day. A five yard pass to Mario Manningham.
Kitna and the Cowboys kept the foot on the gas pedal, responding with another touchdown drive.
That drive ended with a 24 yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin.
It was Kitna’s third touchdown pass of the day to give Dallas a 33-13 lead.
Manning answered with his second touchdown pass of the day to bring the score to 33-20, and ending the scoring for the day.
The Cowboys defense tightened up in the 4th quarter.
New York’s final three drives in their comeback attempt ended with a failed 4th & 1, a sack fumble, and an interception.
Season Results
In the scope of the 2010 season, the victory in the Meadowlands to move to 2-7 didn’t have an impact.
However, in the grand scheme of things, it kicked off a new era of Cowboys football that wouldn’t end until 10 years later.
Garrett, a career backup himself, made the most of what he was given as interim head coach.
He imprinted his work ethic and underdog mentality onto a group of players that was a good mix of veterans and young talent.
Jason Garrett was awarded the full time head coach position after Dallas finished the season winners in five of their last eight games.
The Giants went on to finish 10-6 on the season, but missed the playoffs after losing a tiebreaker to the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles.