DALLAS COWBOYS 35, NY GIANT 32

Yeah, I stayed up to watch the whole thing.

The Boys blew a 23-7 third quarter lead, allowing the Giants to tie it up in a blistering fourth quarter. The source of the collapse was a Dallas offense that suddenly couldn't make first downs consistently, and a tired defense that had simply been on the field too long.

The Giants took the lead, 32-29, with 11 seconds on the clock, and it looked like yet another blown lead for the Boys. The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds at the Cowboys' 1 yard line, giving the Boys the ball at their own 40. New life?

On first down, with those 11 precious seconds left, Cowboys QB Quincy Carter dropped back and found receiver Antonio Bryant deep in Giant territory. Bryant caught the bullet and got out of bounds with 4 ticks left. Cowboys kicker Billy Cundiff came on to try a desperate 52-yeard field goal to tie it--which he made, with no time on the clock.

Overtime, 32-32. Dallas won the toss but didn't do much with the ball. Neither did the G-men when Dallas punted, so Dallas got the ball back and moved it down to the Giants' 10 on Carter's arm and legs (the man can scramble when he gets the urge). Cundiff came back on and booted a 25-yarder (his seventh of the game!) to lift the Cowboys past the favored Giants.

Unbelievable. I thought it would be November before we'd see a Dallas win this season, but Quincy Carter proved he can play when he knows what he wants to do with the ball. He even improvised well, only truly botching one pass which the Giants' defense snatched and turned into a quick score.

I'll pay for staying up so late tomorrow, but it was worth it to see the Tuna beat his old team in Giants Stadium. Take that, Jeremy Shockey!