Chris Littmann breaks down the ongoing action of the Giants-Cowboys NFC Division Playoff matchup:
End of the first half
Two touchdowns and two very different ways to getting those points. The Cowboys have to put better pressure on Manning in the second half or he’ll pick apart this secondary.
:07
The Giants don’t even take the full remaining time to get into the end zone. Eli Manning finds Amani Toomer for a touchdown across the middle. That drive was more like what people expected out of big brother Peyton late in the game today.
:11
The rookies are getting it done on this drive. First it was Smith, and now it’s Kevin Boss to the 4-yard line. It’s time to think TD.
:28
The other Steve Smith is doing a great job of giving Eli Manning another target on this last drive. He has accounted for 48 yards if you count the 15-yard facemask whistled against the Cowboys on his latest catch. The ball is at the Dallas 23.
The ruling on the field stands
And now the Cowboys are 2-for-2 on reviews of touchdowns. Barber has 101 yards before halftime. I ask again: Why wasn’t he starting sooner?
:53
For all the work Barber has done today, it’s only fitting he slams through the line on the 20th play of that monster drive by the Cowboys that lasted 10:28. Assuming the play stands up to review, the Cowboys lead, 14-7.
1:53
Amazingly enough, Jason Witten gets his first catch of the game on the Cowboys’ 18th play of this drive. Witten’s 96 catches were the third-most by a tight end in NFL history.
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3:00
Corey Webster drops what has to be the game’s easiest interception when Terry Glenn falls down. Two plays later, the Cowboys make it 5-for-5 on third-down conversions because of Barber’s excellent blitz pickup on Kawika Mitchell. That leaves Romo plenty of time to hit T.O. on a crossing route for a first down.
6:27
Terry Glenn sighting! Romo hits him with a quick pass to the left side. Glenn stumbles, but still converts the first down.
7:30
It’s not often that the ballcarrier decleats the defender, but Barber took Antonio Pierce’s cleats off the ground on his first-down conversion.
And while we wait
Look, the robots from the FOX scoreboards got a spin-off! “The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”
11:21
Giants rookie corner Aaron Ross is slow to get up and they can’t afford to lose him, not when they’re already two corners short in that defensive backfield.
And while we wait
Just got a call from Sporting News Radio and I’ll be on around (tentatively) 7:30 ... or whenever this game ends. Tune in and give a listen.
11:55
That potent Dallas pass rush came to life during this series. Chris Canty gets to Eli Manning on third down to force a punt. The Giants have to stay in short, manageable situations that allow them to be a threat to run. When Eli is forced into one-dimensional offensive situations, DeMarcus Ware and his teammates will be flying into the backfield without any thought about the ground game.
13:26
One word to describe this game: chippy. How many shots are happening well after the whistle? Wouldn’t hurt the officials to get control of this one.
The ruling on the field stands
Terrell Owens looks just fine. His TD grab ties this one, 7-7.
14:56 remaining
T.O. gets the second quarter popping with a short touchdown grab. And just like just about every other big play I’ve seen today, there’s a challenge from the Giants. Not looking good for Coughlin and Co.↵
LiveBlog: Giants-Cowboys, second quarter
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