2011-2012 Giants Season In Review, Week 14: Giants 37, Cowboys 34

The New York Giants entered their Week 14 meeting with the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys with a straight-forward mandate. Win the game or forget about any hope of making the NFC playoffs. In fact, the Giants needed to beat Dallas twice. First things first, however.

We know that the Giants emerged with a season-saving 37-34 victory, pulling even with the Cowboys in the NFC East title chase. Do you remember, however, how close the Giants came to having their season pretty much end during this visit to Arlington?

When a wide-open Dez Bryant hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass and danced his way into the end zone the Cowboys had a seemingly insurmountable 34-22 lead with 5:41 to play. The party was on in Dallas, and the Giants looked like they were done.

Then, Dallas did what it has done so often in recent seasons -- snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The Giants, as they did so often in 2011, proceeded to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Giants quickly moved 80 yards in eight plays, with Eli Manning hitting Jake Ballard for an eight-yard touchdown with 3:14 remaining as the Giants pulled to within 34-29.

Dallas then helped the Giants immensely, going three-and-out with quarterback Tony Romo overthrowing a wide open Miles Austin on third down. Austin was behind the Giants defense for what likely would have been a game-clinching touchdown for the Cowboys.

The Giants then drove 58 yards in six plays, with Brandon Jacobs barreling in from one yard out to give the Giants the lead with 46 seconds left. Danny Ware ran in with the two-point conversion to make the score 37-34. Dallas helped the Giants with two penalties on the drive. Let's also not forget Ahmad Bradshaw's recovery of Kevin Boothe's errant shotgun snap that saved that drive for New York.

Then came the season-saving sequence.

Dallas moved into position for Dan Bailey to try a 47-yard field goal with six seconds left. Bailey drilled it, but Giants coach Tom Coughlin was able to get timeout just before the snap. Jason Pierre-Paul blocked Bailey's re-try, assuring the victory for the Giants.

Manning went 27-of-47 for 400 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

After this game the teams were tied atop the NFC East with 7-6 records.