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Cowboys vs. Giants Week 17 game: Dak’s money TD throw to Cole Beasley vaults Cowboys over Giants 36-35

The Cowboys had a big day against the Giants as Dak Prescott finds Cole Beasley in the back on the end zone and two-point try is good for the 36-35 win.

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NFL: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Fourth Quarter

Cowboys elect to go for two and the lead...Dak flushed out and he’s got Michael Gallup...It’s Good!!! Cowboys 36, Giants 35! Three incomplete passes later for Eli Manning...GAME OVER! Cowboys WIN!!!

Cowboys have one last chance for a two-minute drive to tie it up. Facing a 4th and 15 after a false start on Cameron Fleming. Dak fires it to Cole Beasley in the end zone and it’s ruled incomplete....HOLD ON...After review Beasley’s knee was down in the end zone. TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS!!!

Cowboys next possession, less than four minutes to go. Dak connects with Amari Cooper on first down but Cooper FUMBLES! Giants recover but the damage is minimal as they tack on only three points following the fumble. Giants 35, Cowboys 28.

The ensuing drive for New York is a lone one as they march down 74-yards to the red zone and take almost six minutes off the clock. As Saquon Barkley reaches over the goal line, it looks as though he might have fumbled but it was ruled a touchdown as the ball crossed the plane. Giants 32, Cowboys 28.

On the next Cowboys possession, Dak Prescott fires a deep ball to Allen Hurns for 49-yards and a first and goal opportunity. One play later, Rod Smith rumbles through the Giants’ D-line for a TOUCHDOWN!!!

The Giants are back on offense and they pick right up where they left off as the Cowboys defense starts to miss tackles all over the field. Several plays later, the Giants take the lead on a two-yard run. Giants 25, Cowboys 21.

Third Quarter

It doesn’t take the Giants too long to answer, five plays and 73-yards later, Eli-to-Evan Engram for the touchdown. Giants go for two and Engram’ attempt is good. It’s a 3-point game in chilly New York. The Cowboys offense stalls after another sack on Prescott and they punt to end the third quarter.

Prescott finds Beasley again to stay ahead of the chains then on 3rd and 3, DAK-TO-JARWIN...TOUCHDOWN!!! Wowza! Holy tight ends, Cowboys! That’s three TD’s for Jarwin on the day. Cowboys 21, Giants 10

The Dallas offense is back on the field and so is Dak Prescott as he connects with Amari Cooper for another set of downs. Several plays later, Amari Cooper can only get 10 on 3rd and 13, the Cowboys go for it and Cole Beasley converts.

Facing a 4th and 3 at the Cowboys-38, Manning converts with a pass to Fowler. Several plays later a 3rd and 6 becomes 3rd and 11 as Saquon Barkley is called for a false start. The Giants can’t convert the third-down attempt but Aldrick Rosas puts three on the board with a 48-yard field goal. Cowboys lead 14-10.

Dallas starts the third quarter on offense but a miscue resulting in another sack on Dak Prescott cooks the opportunity. The Cowboys are forced to punt again.

Halftime

Second Quarter

The Giants will have less than two minutes and they make the most of them before the half. Eli Manning finds Shepard again for 17-yards and then on 3rd and 10 from the Dallas-21, Cody Latimer hauls in a touchdown to make this a one-score game at the half.

That was the Cowboys eighth third-down conversion on 10 attempts today...without two starting linemen...and no Ezekiel Elliott.

At the two-minute warning, Dak can’t connect with Jamize Olawale and Dallas is facing 3rd and 9. No problem...Dak-to-Jarwin...TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS!!

Several plays later, Prescott is sacked on second down forcing a third and long. Prescott fires the ball to his tight end and he does a great job at converting. As Dak looks for Michael Gallup deep, B.W. Webb is draped all over him and the Cowboys benefit from the interference call.

No idea why but Dak Prescott is still out there when the offense takes the field. Dak finds Cole Beasley on a nice catch-and-run to set up the offense with a fresh set of downs.

The Giants offense makes a quick exit after three plays on their next drive and are forced to punt again. So far, the Giants have two turnovers and two punts in their four first-half possessions.

On that third and long, Dak Prescott finds Blake Jarwin over the middle in the end zone...TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS!

Once again, the offense is inside the red zone and once again they move backwards after La’el Collins is called for holding. Then the Giants get called for offsides and the Cowboys are facing a 3rd and 12.

The Cowboys offense comes back out with another chance to get in-sync. That’s exactly what they do as Dak Prescott connects with Cole Beasley and Tavon Austin to keep this drive going. Dak then finds Amari Cooper to move the chains again on third down.

New York isn’t getting much done on this drive as two penalties on the offensive line set them back. Manning is way off on a third down throw and the Giants punt it back to the Cowboys.

First Quarter

Giants will start at their own 24-yard line to begin the second quarter.

Dallas starting at midfield and they just keep pounding the ball with some nice running by Rod Smith. Once in the red zone though that same stuttering offense starts to struggle. After Dak gets sacked by Olivier Vernon, the Cowboys can’t punch it in on third down and out trots Brett Maher, he MISSES the 34-yarder wide right and we’re stuck at 0.

On the ensuing drive for New York, they use four plays and are right back in Cowboys-territory before Eli Manning happens again:

The Cowboys offense starts to move the ball pretty well even without so many key components, making their way to Giants territory in just a few plays. However, Dak Prescott’s pass is nearly picked off after Janoris Jenkins jumps Amari Cooper’s route. The Cowboys don’t get much after and are forced to punt.

Facing third and four at the Dallas-6, Eli is going to Eli as he looks for Shepard but finds Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie instead:

Giants start with the ball and in back-to-back plays they pick up huge yardage. On first down, Eli Manning finds Sterling Shepard for 24 yards out of bounds at the Dallas-38. Then on the very next play rookie-sensation Saquon Barkley picks up 26-yards as he knifes through the Cowboys first-team defense. Now in the red zone at the Dallas-12, Barkley only gets one yard and the Giants only pick up five on second down.

Pregame Inactives:

With everything sewn up for the Cowboys, the inactives for this week include anyone that needs rest for the playoffs.

Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith, RB Ezekiel Elliott, OG Zack Martin, DL David Irving, DL Tyrone Crawford, LB Chris Covington, QB Mike White

Giants: WR Odell Beckham Jr., DE Mario Edwards, TE Rhett Ellison, LB Alec Ogletree, WR Russell Shepard, TE Garrett Dickerson, S Kamrin Moore

This is it, the final game of the 2018 season for the Dallas Cowboys. Fortunately, this will not be the last game of the Cowboys season as they have a date for the playoffs next weekend. Their opponent this week, the New York Giants, are just playing out the string and trying to figure out how to rebuild in the offseason.

Dallas wants to strike the balance between maintaining momentum and resting players, but in the end Jason Garrett usually errs on the side of caution so expect him to not play/pull starters early in the game. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are two guys in particular who could play a series or two then be gone.

Plenty of backups should could get loads of playing time, including Sean Lee if he’s healthy enough. The Cowboys would probably like to rest Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch some, and Lee could eat up some of those reps if he can go. Tavon Austin is another guy who could use a good run to shake the rust off and get ready or the playoffs.

What You Need To Know

Important links: Cowboys depth chart | Roster

Date: Sunday, December 30, 2018

Game time: 1:00 PM EST

Location: MetLife Stadium

TV channel: FOX

Coverage Map: 506 Sports

Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver (Field reporter)

Radio: 105.3 The Fan | Full listings | Westwood One | SIRIUS: 111 (Dal), 94 (NYG) | XM: 385 (Dal), 230 (NYG)

Streaming: Fubo | NFL.com GamePass (audio only during game) | FoxSpotsGo

Cowboys record: (9-6)

Giants record: (5-10)

Odds: Dallas +7

Prediction: Dallas 20 - New York 19

Enemy blog: Big Blue View

Twitter: @BloggingTheBoys

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