HERO
Fill-in Giants safety Stevie Brown, a Dallas native, had a homecoming to remember with two interceptions and a crucial fumble recovery that led to the decisive field goal to go along with six solo tackles, two pass breakups and two special-teams tackles. Playing for his third team in three seasons, the journeyman has produced six turnovers as a Giant and surely will have a place in the defense even after Kenny Phillips returns.
ZERO
That the Cowboys rallied furiously from a 23-point deficit doesn’t absolve Tony Romo, mainly because it was the veteran quarterback who put Dallas in that hole in the first place. Romo kept blaming his receivers for his four interceptions, but the biggest of those turnovers — a pick-6 by Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul early in the second quarter — was all on Romo. As was the bulk of this crushing Cowboys loss.
UNSUNG HERO
Pierre-Paul had a sack to go along with his interception for a score, but punter Steve Weatherford was the definition of an overlooked hero for the Giants by averaging 48 yards on six punts (including a 59-yarder) and pinning the Cowboys inside their 20-yard line twice. Weatherford didn’t suffer a touchback and made sure the Giants won the field-position battle all day long.
KEY STATISTIC
6 Turnovers by the Cowboys, including two lost fumbles to go along with Romo’s four interceptions. A whopping 23 of the Giants’ 29 points came directly off those Dallas mistakes.