by David ElfinFiled under: Cowboys, Giants, NFC East
In his first season with the Giants, 2000, backup quarterback Jason Garrett helped surprising New York reach the Super Bowl.
In his first game as Dallas' interim coach this evening against the heavily favored Giants, Garrett pulled off one of the biggest upsets in memory as the Cowboys, who came in 1-7 having lost five straight, prevailed 33-20 at New Meadowlands Stadium over the NFC East leaders, who had been 6-2 after winning five in a row. Garrett was promoted from offensive coordinator on Monday, the day after defending NFC East champion Dallas had been drubbed 45-7 at Green Bay.
Rookie free agent cornerback Bryan McCann was only on the field with New York on the Dallas 2-yard line midway through the second quarter because starters Terence Newman (ankle) and Mike Jenkins (neck) had both been sidelined with injuries earlier in the first half. Good thing for the Cowboys because McCann picked off Eli Manning's errant throw for ace receiver Hakeem Nicks -- who had cut the wrong way -- and raced 101 yards the other way for a touchdown. The interception return by McCann, whose fumble on a kickoff return in his debut a week ago had turned into a Packers touchdown, was the longest in Cowboys history. And it was a big part of Dallas ending its longest skid since the 1-15 season of 1989.
Here are some thoughts on the game:
o. Jon Kitna will never go to the Hall of Fame without a ticket, but the veteran journeyman's passer rating at halftime was 145.1 as he continued filling in for the injured Tony Romo. Kitna's rating kept rising with a 71-yard scoring toss to running back Felix Jones on the third play of the third quarter. Kitna opened his next series with a screen to Dez Bryant which the rookie receiver turned into a 46-yard gain. Three plays later, Kitna threaded a gorgeous 27-yard pass to receiver Roy Williams on third-and-22 and followed with a 24-yard touchdown strike to Miles Austin to raise Dallas' lead to 33-13 with 6:27 left in the quarter.
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