Live Updates: Giants 33, Dallas 31, final

11:52 p.m. In a game that had multiple lead changes in the second half, it helps to have the ball last. The Giants benefited from more late-game heroics from Eli Manning, helping offset an awful performance from the run defense and a questionable effort from the backfield. Nevertheless, any win over a divisional opponent is meaningful, and this victory — elevated by the setting — is bigger than most. Some questions must be addressed, but enjoy this one.

11:48 p.m. This one is going to come down to Lawrence Tynes. The Giants have moved into Dallas territory — now at the 41 with 45 seconds to play — and will look to get another 10 to 15 yards before calling on its kicker. Update: The Giants complete two straight passes — to Manningham for eight on third and four, and to Smith for 12. This puts the Giants at the Dallas 21. With a timeout still remaining, Manning wisely takes a knee in the middle of the field, lining up Tynes with an easy 37-yard try. The kick is up and good, but won’t count: Wade Phillips called a timeout before the snap. Doesn’t matter for Tynes, who was able to line up his kick. After drifting left on his first try, his second kick splits the uprights, and the Giants beat the Cowboys, 33-31.

Andy: “Correction: story of the game is Eli Manning and that Giants passing attack.”

11:32 p.m. This is turning into a great game — kudos to Andy, who predicted this one to go to the wire earlier this evening. Dallas punched this one into the end zone to reclaim the lead, 31-30, with less than four minutes to play. As has been the case nearly all game, Dallas dominated the line of scrimmage. This latest drive was defined by a 35-yard rumble by Barber, who had a clear line to the end zone before suffering what looked like either a cramp or muscle pull that severely hampered his stride, allowing Bruce Johnson to track him down at the Giants’s seven. No matter: The next play was an inside draw to Felix Jones, who stormed into the end zone for the score. The Cowboys have 251 yards rushing on the day, 178 in the second half. Quite a dominating performance by the offensive line.

Andy: “Story of this game… Dallas rushing for the most yards in the franchise’s history since 1993. The front five has absolutely obliterated New York’s defensive line.”

11:25 p.m. The Giants add a field goal, pushing their lead to six. With less than eight minutes to play, it’s a 30-24 game. This try came from 36 yards out, a harder kick than the attempt Tynes missed earlier in the half. As Andy pointed out, Tynes does occasionally suffer a brain lapse; let’s hope he’s back on track. The drive was helped out by great field position: New York opened the drive at its own 42, and despite earning only 40 yards — 25 on the first play, a pass to Manningham — was able to double its lead. Big drive coming up for the Cowboys. Could they possibly lose their opening game in the new stadium?

11:16 p.m. Andy: “Anyone else sick of these super low budget Geico commercials?” They could be worse: Some of our readers from the Baltimore area may recall the famous Gebco (not a misprint) commercials, which featured, among other things, former Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden dancing in a field, surrounded by scantily clad cheerleaders. A true classic of the insurance genre.

11:10 p.m. Touchdown, Giants! Manning hits a shockingly wide open Steve Smith for the go-ahead score, and it’s a 27-24 game. How could Dallas allow Smith to find such a hole? My only guess, having not yet seen a replay, is that Dallas had a player neglect his responsibility in a zone look; that would account for why there was no one with eight yards of Smith when he made the grab inside the five. As Andy astutely pointed out a moment ago, Manningham and Smith have been nothing short of superb. While Dallas’s receivers have not given Romo much help, this young duo has moved the chains, stretched the defense, and got into the end zone. No, I’ll follow Andy’s lead and fall short of proclaiming Smith and Manningham capable of completely replacing Plaxico, but they’ve played well, obviously.

11:02 p.m. Where Romo misread the defense on his play action pass, Manning threads the needle on the deep post. First, Romo. As mentioned, Dallas has been very successful on the ground; obviously, such success allows the offense to go with play action, potentially opening a deep third down field. However, the Giants did not bite on Romo’s play fake, and instead of having a receiver running deep over the middle field in single coverage, the Dallas receiver was blanketed underneath by the cornerback and over the top by Kenny Phillips. Romo put plenty of air under the ball — meaning his intended receiver could have, if there wasn’t a safety over the top, caught the ball in stride — but Philips was playing center field, and made an easy pick.

Now, Manning’s pass. The Giants went with a very similar look: play fake, step up in the pocket, deliver on the deep post. However, Dallas did not have a safety deep, and Manningham (yes, again) was able to get behind the coverage and make a tough grab. The former Michigan Wolverine is having a breakout game.

Andy: “This game has a classic feel to it. An epic ending just feels inevitable. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham are both over 100 yards receiving. That means we’re required to make a generic ‘guess they don’t miss Plaxico that much after all’ statement, right?”

10:52 p.m. Dallas retakes the lead thanks to, of all things, a touchdown run from its quarterback. Not that it was especially long, only three yards, but it obviously caught the Giants off guard.

Andy: “Gotta admit, Al Michaels made a compelling quick case for the N.F.L.’s return to Los Angeles.
New York’s defense doesn’t have a player more important than Justin Tuck. The loss of his versatility is enormous. GREAT play call by Jason Garrett on the quarterback draw. Arguably the smartest redhead in the game.”

Smarter than Washington long snapper Ethan Albright? Garrett called up all the right plays on this drive, which began at Dallas’s own 17. Of course, it helps to get 56 yards on the second play from scrimmage, as Dallas did from Felix Jones. That long run — which came off the left side — was followed by 25 yards on two carries by Marion Barber, and ended with Romo’s three-yard scamper. Still surprised by Dallas’s ability to control the line of scrimmage on offense. Any ideas as to how its offensive front has been so successful?