What an exciting sensation, the NFL regular season is officially launched!
This first game of the regular season is a confrontation of the last Super Bowl winners New York Giants that host their divison rivals Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
Dallas hopes its secondary to be able to defend New York's passing game with both new corners, first rounder Morris Claiborne and ex-Chief Brandon Carr. The front seven is solid led by quarterbacks' intimidator linebacker Demarcus Ware.
Inside the offense, running back Demarco Murray is now the primary halfback over Felix Jones.
Tony Romo's got his main targets to throw to in Dez Bryant and Miles Austin. Romo hopes for a good pass protection in order to complete passes against the so hungry Giants' defense
Among the defending champs, offensively and defensively, playmakers are there, Jason Pierre Paul will certainly be a major threat to contain. On the other side of the ball, Victor Cruz, who set a new franchise record in terms of catching yard last season, is very watched.
But let's see what really happened between these two division rivals of the NFC East
Cowboys' Dan Bailey kicks off to offically launch the regular season. After a 69-yard KICK to NYG -4, rookie running back David Wilson returns the football to NYG 16 for a total gain of 20 yards.
Quarterback Eli Manning begins his first offensive drive of the season inside his own 20.
It will be 3 & out for both teams, the beginning of the game is very shy for these two teams
On the second offensive drive for the G men, Eli Manning (photo left #10) hits Victor Cruz with a 26-yard bullet deep left, his receiver ran out of bounds at NYG 44.
Few plays later, it's 1st & 10 at DAL 31, Ahmad Bradshaw runs for 2 yards. Gaining yards on the ground seems to be very complicated in this game. 2nd & 8, David Wilson runs but he fumbles the ball at DAL 29, recovered by the Cowboys.
This turnover will have no consequence as the opening period ends with no score.
The second period starts with the G men on offense and, on a 1st & 10 at DAL 41, Manning is sacked, losing 15 yards on this play, by Cowboys' linebacker Demarcus Ware.
Ware (photo right #94) gets his 100th sack, he is the second fastest player to reach this mark in NFL history.
It's another 3 & out for the Giants offensive squad leading to a 45-yard punt by Steve Weatherford that ends in the endzone.
The cowboys recover the football at their own 20 to start a new offensive drive.
After a penalty for delay of game, it's 3 & 8, pass situation, shotgun formation.
On pass intented for Kevin Ogletree, Tony Romo is picked off by Giants' linebacker Michael Boley who returns this interception along the sideline (photo left #59) well helped by his teammates. Offensive lineman Tyron Smith will be the only one able to avoiding the 6 points pushing Boley out of bounds at DAL 2 but guilty of a horse collar tackle.
Penalty, half distance to the goal.
At this point the first touchdown of the regular season is about to be scored.
For the first attempt the G men try the ground option with Ahmad Bradshaw who runs on the right but he's pushed out of bounds, losing 2 yards on the play. 2nd & goal with 3 yards before crossing the goal line, Ahmad Bradshaw tries the left side but he's immediatly stopped, losing another yard.
It's 3rd & goal, Eli Manning tries the Victor Cruz option, which worked so well last season, but the G man is unable to get the ball in the middle of the endzone.
This will lead to a field goal by Laurence Tynes for a 22-yard distance. This kick allowing the Giants to lead 3 to nothing.
This game goes faster at the end of the first half, Dallas regains the football with 3.34 to go in the first half. The revival of Dallas comes up during this series, after a big reception of Dez Bryant on a deep right 38-yard pass that makes the Cowboys enter opponent's red zone.
Two plays later Tony Romo finds Kevin Ogletree (photo right #85) on a short middle 10-yard pass for the first touchdown of this regular season.
With about 1 minute to go in the first half, the score is now 7-3 Cowboys and this will be the score at halftime
Dallas starts on offense to begin the second half. A touchback will place the Cowboys at the 20.
Halfback DeMarco Murray touches the ball five times in a row, he runs three times and caught two passes from his thrower. After the Murray show, Dallas is at its own 44, 2nd & 10, Romo finds wideout Dez Bryant by completing a throw to the right for a 16-yard gain. America's team is now in Giants' territory at NYG 40, on the next play, Tony Romo (photo left #9, 22/29 for 307 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception) hits Kevin Ogletree for a big 40-yard touchdown deep right. Ogletree (photo right #85) is the big guy for the Cowboys, he catches 8 for a total gain of 114 yards and 2 touchdown. That's huge for a guy who was not sure about being simply the third receiver on Dallas' depth chart.
Dallas leads on a 14-3 score
On the following drive, New York starts from its own 11. A good play selection for Eli and his squad, it's 3rd & 4 at DAL 49, Manning hits Dominick Hixon with a 39-yard bullet that places the G men at DAL 10. Back to the ground, Ahmad Bradshaw runs on the left to score a 10-yard touchdown.
Bradshaw (photo left #44) will ends up with 17 carries for a total gain of 78 yards and 1 score, he catches the ball twice for 15 yards.
On the following drive, despite a big run by DeMarco Murray for a 48-yard distance, the Cowboys are stopped by opponent's defense at NYG 15 and are forced to kick a 33-yard field goal by kicker Dan Bailey.
Dallas increases its lead, with 3 more points, New York needs now a touchdown to tie the game up as, with 0.40 to go in the 3rd, the score is 17-10 Dallas and no point will be added
The final period begins with New York on offense, they really need to build a solid drive in order to come back in the game. Unfortunately a punt will follow.
Dallas takes off with 13.03 to go in regulation from its own 18. Quarterback Tony Romo builds a solid drive that spends a little more than 7 minutes and will lead to a 34-yard touchdown by Miles Austin (photo left #19) on a deep left pass from his thrower.
The score is 24-10 Cowboys
With the Cowboys leading by two scores, the G men need to react quickly because time's still running. 5.57 when New York recovers the ball. It's time for no huddle offense but there's still time to run the ball to open up spaces for the passing game.
New York will score a touchdown by former Cowboys' tight end Martellus Bennett (photo left #85) on a short middle pass of 9 yards.
The score is 24-17 Cowboys, but with only 2.36 remaining in regulation, Dallas is back on offense.
Dallas needs only one first down to reap the game. New York spends its two timeouts left just before the two minute warning . After a penalty for offensive holding against Dallas, their 3rd & 2 becomes a 3rd & 10. The Cowboys decide to pass instead of running, Ogletree catch a 13-yard pass to secure the win.