page_title: 2006 New York Giants season
section_title: Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys
hierarchical_section_title: 2006 New York Giants season / Regular season / Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys
caption_attribution_description: w:The New York Giants attempt an extra point in a December 2006 game against the w:Dallas Cowboys.
context_page_description: The 2006 New York Giants season was the franchise's 82nd season in the National Football League.
  The season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 2005, which saw them win the NFC East. They did not win the NFC East or improve on that record, falling to 8–8 on the season after starting 6–2. However, head coach Tom Coughlin became the first Giants head coach since Bill Parcells to lead the team to consecutive playoff berths as the team qualified as one of two NFC wild card teams. This was Tiki Barber's final season in the NFL.
context_section_description: The Giants have been victims of their own self-inflicted wounds during the past three games and today's game against the Cowboys yielded no exception as the Giants made crucial mistakes at the worst times, leading to their defeat. Tony Romo threw to tight end Jason Witten for a big play with only about 50 seconds remaining.  Newly acquired kicker Martin Gramatica then hit a 46-yard field goal to give Dallas a 23–20 win and a two-game lead in the NFC Eastern Division.  It was a hard-fought game from start to finish, but several mental mistakes by the Giants, including four personal foul penalties, a fumble after an interception, terrible play calling in the redzone and questionable timeout with 1:43 remaining, cost the team dearly.
  The Giants began well with Eli Manning playing one of his best games in weeks.  The Giants traveled 66 yards in 10 plays.  Using a combination of good running and pass mixture, Eli Manning hit an open Jeremy Shockey for a 17-yard touchdown.  Romo then threw his first of two interceptions, to defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, who fumbled the ball as he ran, leading to a Dallas recovery.  Three plays later, Dallas was in the endzone as Marion Barber scored.  Late in the first half with the Giants moving, New York made another critical mistake.  With fourth and inches at the Dallas 21, the Giants called a long handoff that was stuffed.  Dallas then went ahead with a field goal for a 10–7 halftime lead.
  New York had several opportunities to put the Cowboys on the ropes in the second half, but poor play-calling following long drives hurt them.  After traveling to the Dallas five late in the period, a poor pass by Manning, a run for nothing, and another dangerous pass forced the Giants to tie the game with a field goal.  After Dallas made a field goal to take a 13–10 lead, Manning again led the Giants downfield.  This time, while inside the 10, running back Brandon Jacobs was unthinkably removed from the ball game despite his ability to pound the football.  The Giants had to tie the game at 13.
  With nine minutes left, Romo led the Cowboys to a 20–13 lead by converting on several crucial first downs on a 12-play, 66-yard drive.  On one third down, safety Gibril Wilson nearly intercepted Romo.  However, in a trend of mistakes, he did not make the play, and the pass was complete for a first down.  Down by seven with minutes to play, Eli Manning led the Giants downfield using a no-huddle offense.  Following a long screen pass to Tiki Barber, the Giants committed another mistake; they called a timeout to keep an additional 40 seconds on the clock.  Manning capped off the 63 yard march with a seven-yard strike to Plaxico Burress to tie it at 20–20.
  But the Giants had no answer on defense for Tony Romo's confidence or late game heroics.  The bad timeout came back to haunt the Giants as Romo found Jason Witten open downfield and Gramatica kicked the game-winner.  Manning was 24–36 for 270 yards and two touchdowns, and Tiki Barber rushed for 90 yards.  Shockey led the Giants with six receptions.  The differences in the game were once again the questionable playcalls and poor execution at crucial times in the game.  Romo for the day was exceptional, finishing 20 of 34 for 257 passing yards, with two interceptions.
caption: The Giants attempt an extra point in their week 13 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
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