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Giants stop Cowboys to take division
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2012, Tuesday
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THE New York Giants stormed to an early lead then held on to beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 in the National Football League's season finale on Sunday to claim the NFC East crown and a place in the playoffs in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
With the victory, the Giants (9-7) return to the post-season for the first time in three years, earning the number four seed and a home game against the Atlanta Falcons (10-6), which defeated Tampa Bay 45-24, on Sunday.
"NFL East champions, I won't get tired of hearing that," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.
"To be in a position where you are playing for this opportunity in the last three weeks of the season and able to determine your own destiny... to be NFC East champions is a very rewarding thing.
"But as we stated from day one, we wanted to win the division so we could have the direct route into the playoffs and that's what happened."
The Giants, powered by two of Eli Manning's three touchdown passes, jumped out to 21-0 halftime lead then fought off a second half fightback.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo fired a pair of touchdown strikes to Laurent Robinson to cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth quarter, but could not complete the comeback and missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
"Eventually you run out of excuses," Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking said as the Cowboys stumbled down the home stretch, losing four of their last five. "This game is about players making plays and we didn't do that."
Manning, who was named to the Pro Bowl last week, flashed his all-star credentials completing 24-of-33 passes for 346-yards in a masterful performance.
The Denver Broncos won the AFC West despite falling 7-3 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday because San Diego knocked off Oakland 38-26.
The Broncos and Raiders shared the division lead at 8-8, but Denver won on the tiebreaker.
Baltimore (12-4) took the AFC North and a first-round bye as a No. 2 seed when it outlasted Cincinnati 24-16. Even though the Bengals lost, their 9-7 record earned them a wild card spot.
Pittsburgh (12-4) is the other wild card, but lost both games to the Ravens this year to finish second in the division.
The Steelers, who beat Cleveland 13-9, will be at Denver on Sunday. Cincinnati visits Houston (10-6) on Saturday.
The New England Patriots have home-field advantage in the AFC.
With the victory, the Giants (9-7) return to the post-season for the first time in three years, earning the number four seed and a home game against the Atlanta Falcons (10-6), which defeated Tampa Bay 45-24, on Sunday.
"NFL East champions, I won't get tired of hearing that," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.
"To be in a position where you are playing for this opportunity in the last three weeks of the season and able to determine your own destiny... to be NFC East champions is a very rewarding thing.
"But as we stated from day one, we wanted to win the division so we could have the direct route into the playoffs and that's what happened."
The Giants, powered by two of Eli Manning's three touchdown passes, jumped out to 21-0 halftime lead then fought off a second half fightback.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo fired a pair of touchdown strikes to Laurent Robinson to cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth quarter, but could not complete the comeback and missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
"Eventually you run out of excuses," Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking said as the Cowboys stumbled down the home stretch, losing four of their last five. "This game is about players making plays and we didn't do that."
Manning, who was named to the Pro Bowl last week, flashed his all-star credentials completing 24-of-33 passes for 346-yards in a masterful performance.
The Denver Broncos won the AFC West despite falling 7-3 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday because San Diego knocked off Oakland 38-26.
The Broncos and Raiders shared the division lead at 8-8, but Denver won on the tiebreaker.
Baltimore (12-4) took the AFC North and a first-round bye as a No. 2 seed when it outlasted Cincinnati 24-16. Even though the Bengals lost, their 9-7 record earned them a wild card spot.
Pittsburgh (12-4) is the other wild card, but lost both games to the Ravens this year to finish second in the division.
The Steelers, who beat Cleveland 13-9, will be at Denver on Sunday. Cincinnati visits Houston (10-6) on Saturday.
The New England Patriots have home-field advantage in the AFC.
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