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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The drive that put away the Dallas Cowboys' 31-21 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday was notable not for the predictable way it ended (a 1-yard DeMarco Murray touchdown after a brilliant Dez Bryant sideline catch) but for the way it began. The Giants were still in this very good game, trailing 21-14 with a little over 11 minutes left. They were deep in their own territory but moving the ball. On third-and-8 from his own 19-yard line, quarterback Eli Manning found tight end Larry Donnell over the middle for a reception that would have moved the chains and kept the drive alive ... but Donnell fumbled the ball. Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant collected the ball at the Giants' 27-yard line and Dallas' extremely efficient offense was in business -- apparently assured of nothing less than a field goal from their outstanding kicker. A touchdown would put the game more or less out of reach. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who would not throw a single incomplete pass in the second half of this game, found Murray for a 4-yard gain on first down. Murray, the NFL's rushing leader, was stuffed in the backfield by Giants linebacker Jameel McClain for a 2-yard loss on second down, setting up a third-and-8 from the Giants' 25. But converting third downs is something the Cowboys do quite well. They would convert nine of 14 in this game and lead the league in third-down conversion percentage for the year. Bryant lined up wide left. Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara, who'd drawn the assignment of covering the Cowboys' best receiver due to the injury to fellow corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, tried to jam Bryant at the line -- an idea Amukamara himself later described as "a dumb move by me." Bryant got by him just enough, and made a dazzlingly athletic catch inside the 5-yard line. Bryant reached for the end-zone pylon and the officials initially ruled the play a touchdown. A replay review showed that it was not, but Murray took care of things on the next play, plunging in from a yard out to extend the Dallas lead to 28-14 with 9:17 left in the game.
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