Giants "Skip" Past Cowboys

Losing twice to the Dallas Cowboys during the season wasn't pleasant for the New York Giants, but they've retaliated back by ending the Cowboys season yesterday after their victory against them, 21-17.

Eli Manning completed 12 of his 18 attempts, with 2 touchdowns, but suffered from 3 sacks. Manning understands the Giants aren't credited by others enough, but he enjoys the feeling.

"I won't get tired of hearing that this week," Manning said. "No one's given us much credit and probably still won't. But that's OK. We like it that way."

Manning admitted he was nervous, because his brother Indianapolis Colts quarterback Payton Manning was watching. "I was a little nervous," said Eli. "I know (Peyton) was watching and rooting for me."

Amani Toomer had four receptions, eighty yards, and two touchdown catches; Toomer was the only receiver on the Giants to score a touchdown. He gave Manning lots of credit, and he'll hang with him until the end.

"Everybody goes through their ups and downs and he's on the upswing right now," Toomer said. "We're going to ride him as far as we can go."

Brandon Jacobs lead with 54 yards, and 1 touchdown. Michael Strahan had seven tackles, and one assist. Records show the Giants play better on the road this season, and Strahan believes that's the key in the post-season this year.

"I think as a team we seem to perform better on the road," Michael Strahan said. "I didn't know we won eight in a row. That's a great thing, because when it's the playoffs, if we're going to go as far as we want, we have to win every game on the road."

Tony Romo completed 18 of his 36 attempts, with 201 yards, and 1 touchdown. He feels the pain, and Romo said he'll take the blame. "For it to end like that, and for me to be the cause, is very tough to swallow right now," Romo said.

"It's hard, especially right now because you need to take a step back," Romo said. "I've grown up in the sense that I'm not naive to believe that everything is going to work out perfect. So I appreciate the moments sometimes, even though we didn't accomplish our goal."

Marion Barber had 129 yards rushing, and 1 touchdown. Jason Whitten who accompanied Romo on his bye week vacation with Jessica Simpson, had 81 yards, and 7 receptions.

"They say, 'They haven't won a playoff game in 10 years,' but you've only been in four," Wade Phillips said. "It's not like you've been 10 years in a row and haven't won one. Part of it is getting in there. If you get in there enough, you're going to win your share."

The Cowboys finish their season 13-3, and first in the NFC North division. Terrell Owens had 4 receptions, 49 yards, and 1 touchdown. He returned after suffering from an injury, but Owens worked hard to prepare himself for the post-season.

"Terrell said he's going to play and I believe him. I think he will attempt to play and we will let him," Phillips said. "To what degree, at what level, remains to be seen in the game. Unless something unforeseen happens, I think he probably will."

Owens says its not fair to Romo that he gets blamed for this lost, because they've failed as a team. "This is not about Tony. You guys can point the finger at him, you can talk about the vacation, and if you do that, it's really unfair," Owens said, whom cried during the press conference. "It's really unfair. That's my teammate. That's my quarterback. You guys do that, it's not fair. We lost as a team. We lost as a team, man."

Romo wanted to get Owens more involved but couldn't, because the Giants covered him great in the second half. "They kind of doubled T.O. on the outside and Terry had a guy running with him up the middle," Romo said. "I tried to throw to the one guy in one-on-one and hope for something lucky."

The Green Bay Packers are the Giants next competitors, and they'll face them on Sunday. The Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 42-20 to succeed past the Divisional round, and they've beat the Giants 35-10 this season in week two.