NFC: Giants spoil Dallas debut in new stadium

By Stephen Hawkins, AP Sports Writer
Monday, September 21, 2009 | No comments posted.

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Now Tony Romo knows what it sounds like to hear more than 100,000 people booing.

For all hype and pageantry leading into the first game at Cowboys Stadium, the largest regular-season crowd in NFL history turned against their star quarterback once he reverted to some of his error-prone ways.

“Obviously my mistakes really put us in a hole and allowed them to capitalize on some things. ... I really cost us,” Romo said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to play up to the level of the rest of the guys.”

The New York Giants scored all three of their touchdowns after Romo threw interceptions, then Lawrence Tynes kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired for a 33-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

A week after a career-best 353 yards passing and no turnovers in the season opener, Romo had one of his worst outings in one of the biggest settings of his career: 13 of 29 passing for 127 yards in the home opener.

“I’m just really, really disappointed in myself right now,” Romo said.

So were many in the packed house of 105,121 that included former President George W. Bush, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and LeBron James.

Even with the mistakes by Romo, it was an incredible first game at the nearly $1.2 billion stadium: eight lead changes, neither team ever ahead by more than six points. The lead changed three times in the final 8 minutes, and Tynes had to make the game-winner twice — Dallas called timeout just before the snap the first time he made it.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted the defending NFC East champions for the first opponent, a showcase game for the opener. And the Giants (2-0) ruined the ending.

“It was a big game, a division game,” said Kenny Phillips, who had two of the interceptions. “It was like their homecoming game. They picked us to play here. It’s a big win.”

Eli Manning was 25 of 38 for 330 yards with 22-yard touchdowns to Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. Each caught 10 passes, with Manningham’s covering 150 yards and Smith’s going for 134. It was quite a way for the Giants to end a 13-game stretch without a single 100-yard receiver.

After the Cowboys (1-1) went ahead for the final time, 31-30 on a 7-yard touchdown run by Felix Jones with 3:40 left, there was plenty of time left for Manning.

The Giants got out of a first-and-20 at their own 15 and kept it going with two third-down conversions, the second coming on a tipped pass caught by Manningham.

“The whole team did a good job of gutting it out,” Manning said. “This is a good thing to build from.”

Saints 48, Eagles 22: Drew Brees tossed three more touchdown passes as New Orleans routed Philadelphia.

Brees threw six TD passes last week as the Saints pounded Detroit, and seemed to pick apart Philadelphia’s secondary just as easily. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 311 yards and one interception, with Marques Colston grabbing eight passes for 98 yards and two of the scores.

The Eagles (1-1) were without Donovan McNabb, who missed the game with a cracked rib. Kevin Kolb started in his place and threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions, including one that was returned 71 yards by DeSean Jackson for a touchdown.

“You like starting 2-0,” Saints coach Sean Payton said flatly, “but it doesn’t promise you anything.”

Vikings 27, Lions 13: In Detroit, Brett Favre set an NFL record with his 271st straight start in the regular season, then threw two touchdown passes to help beat the Lions.

Adrian Peterson’s 27-yard TD run midway through the third quarter gave Minnesota (2-0) its first lead. He finished with 92 yards rushing, handing Detroit (0-2) its 19th straight loss to tie the second-longest skid in NFL history.

49ers 23, Seahawks 10: At San Francisco, Frank Gore had touchdown runs of 79 and a career-best 80 yards, and finished with 207 yards on 16 carries to lead the 49ers.

Gore nearly reached his franchise mark of 212 yards set in 2006 before leaving in the fourth quarter with a sprained right ankle. He’s the second player in NFL history to have two TD runs of 79 or more yards in the same game, joining Barry Sanders, who did it Oct. 12, 1997.

Seattle (1-1) lost quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a rib injury just before halftime. He didn’t return after completing 10 of 18 passes for 97 yards against the 49ers (2-0).

Falcons 28, Panthers 20: At Atlanta, Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes in the first half and Chris Houston stopped a Jake Delhomme-led rally at the end, intercepting a pass at the Falcons 4 to preserve the win.

Delhomme accounted for 11 turnovers his two previous games. He was better against the Falcons (2-0), throwing for 308 yards and a touchdown, but Carolina (0-2) still lost.

Redskins 9, Rams 7: At Landover, Md., Shaun Suisham kicked field goals of 21, 28 and 23 yards as the Redskins had four drives of more than 60 yards that faltered inside the 10.

Washington (1-1) put the game away with a 78-yard drive that ended with a failed fourth-and-1 from the 2 with less than 2 minutes to play, leaving the Rams (0-2) with too far to go.
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