Referee Jim Core, center, gestures alongside other game officials before an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
September 05, 2012 - 10:56 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Dallas Cowboys led the Super Bowl champion New York Giants 17-10 after three quarters in the NFL opener on Wednesday night.
The Cowboys expanded their lead on a 33-yard field goal by Dan Bailey with 40 seconds left in the quarter.
Ahmad Bradshaw's 10-yard touchdown run brought Giants within 14-10 late in the third quarter.
The key play on the drive was a spectacular leaping grab by Domenik Hixon in traffic, a 39-yard play to the Cowboys 10.
It was a solid answer by New York after Tony Romo hit Kevin Ogletree with a 40-yard touchdown pass, their second of the game, earlier in the quarter.
The Cowboys marched 80 yards on the first drive of the second half with Romo hitting Ogletree deep down the right side.
The Cowboys scored on their final drive of the first half. Romo found Dez Bryant streaking down the right side for a 38-yard gain that moved the ball to the Giants 15. Two plays later, Romo lofted the scoring pass to Ogletree with 1:01 left in the half.
Earlier in the quarter, Michael Boley's 51-yard interception return set up a 22-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes as the Giants opened the scoring. Boley returned the pick of Romo to the Cowboys 2 and a horse-collar penalty gave New York a first-and-goal from the 1. The Giants lost ground on two runs by Bradshaw and a third-down pass to the end zone failed.
Tynes kicked the field goal with 9:10 remaining.
In the first quarter, the Giants kept the Cowboys off the board with a strong defensive stand. Facing a fourth-and-inches from the Giants 37, the Cowboys went for it and came up short when Lawrence Vickers was stopped for no gain.
The Giants best drive ended with a fumble by rookie running back David Wilson. Sean Lee recovered for the Cowboys on their 34.
Cowboys starting centre Phil Costa aggravated a back injury that kept him out of most of the preseason. He was replaced by Ryan Cook.
Giants cornerback Michael Coe left the game with hamstring injury.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012