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If the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants needed a reminder that their run to Super Bowl glory is over and a new season has begun, the Dallas Cowboys gave it to them Wednesday night. The Cowboys handed the Giants a 24-17 loss at MetLife Stadium on opening night of the 2012 NFL season.
The Giants (0-1), who specialized in fourth-quarter comebacks a season ago, appeared to have the Cowboys (1-0) lined up for another one on Wednesday, entering the fourth quarter trailing, 17-10. The comeback didn't materialize, however, and the Cowboys emerged with the victory.
Eli Manning completed 21-of-32 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown for the Giants. Victor Cruz had six catches for 58 yards, but also had three drops. Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 78 yards on 17 carries, but much of his damage came on one 33-yard run.
The Giants opened the scoring when Lawrence Tynes made a 22-yard field goal with 9:14 remaining in the second quarter. The three points was actually disappointing, though. Linebacker Michael Boley set the Giants up at the 2-yard line when he intercepted a Tony Romo pass and returned it 51 yards.
Dallas took a 7-3 halftime lead when Tony Romo completed a 7-play, 73-yard drive by hitting Kevin Ogletree for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:07 left in the half.
The Cowboys stretched the lead to 14-3 on their first drive of the second half. Ogletree beat Corey Webster with a double move and Romo hit him for a 40-yard score with 10:32 left in the third quarter.
The Giants answered with a nine-play, 89-yard drive capped by a 10-yard Ahmad Bradshaw run for a touchdown to make the score 14-10.
Dallas closed the third-quarter scoring when Dan Bailey hit a 33-yard field goal to make the score 17-10 with 45 seconds left in the quarter.
Dallas took a two-touchdown lead when Romo hit Miles Austin for a 34-yard score with 6:12 remaining. That made the score 24-10.
The Giants got within 24-17 when Manning capped a 12-play, 79-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett with 2:36 left.
The Cowboys were able to run out the clock, sending the Giants home with a disappointing season-opening loss.
The Giants next play on Sept. 16 when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.