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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- On a day when rookie Ron Dayne
showed he can play in the NFL, an aging Troy Aikman hinted he can't
anymore.
|  | | Giants cornerback Jason Sehorn intercepted Troy Aikman in the first quarter Sunday but strained his collarbone on the play. |
Dayne rushed for 108 yards and scored the go-ahead 3-yard
touchdown after Aikman threw his team record-tying fifth
interception as the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys
19-14 Sunday.
"I've never had a day like that," said Aikman, whose 12-year
credentials are marked by three Super Bowl championships,
virtually every Cowboys passing record and a recent run of concussions.
"I've never had a day with five interceptions. It started on
the first play and got progressively worse as the day went on,"
Aikman added. "I take full responsibility for this loss."
Kerry Collins added a short touchdown pass and Brad Daluiso
kicked two field goals as the Giants (5-2) won their second
straight heading into the bye week.
Both of New York's touchdowns were set up by interceptions, with
Aikman throwing the ball right to linebacker Mike Barrow at the
Dallas 38, leading to Dayne's TD early in the fourth quarter. A
third interception stopped a second-quarter Dallas drive inside the
Giants 20.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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In recent weeks, the Giants have had difficulty running the football, which
is the way they want to play offensively.
The game today showed a return to an effective running attack (including Ron Dayne's first 100-yard game
in the NFL).
For Dallas, the biggest problem was Troy Aikman throwing the football
to the other team. Aikman set an individual record with five interceptions
-- including two in the end zone.
Even with the interception problems, the Cowboys surprisingly had a chance
to win the game late, but came up short with a fourth-down incompletion in the
end zone.
Since Aikman's return from his concussion, he has not played well. Many
people now believe that what would be best for Dallas is a change to Randall Cunningham, who played
extremely well when Aikman was sidelined earlier in the season..
Kerry Collins and the Giants
continue to struggle with the passing game, but the running game has been
enough to carry the Giants' offense for now.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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"Every great player goes through some form of a slump," Barrow
said. "Their character is revealed by how they come back. If I was
a betting person, I wouldn't bet against Aikman."
Despite Dallas' 2-4 record and those calling for Randall
Cunningham to replace Aikman, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expects
Aikman to start next week at home against Arizona.
Cowboys coach Dave Campo said he never considered lifting
Aikman, who finished 22-of-42 for 211 yards and a touchdown, a
1-yard toss to fullback Robert Thomas.
The TD pass, set up by a 90-yard kickoff return by Jason Tucker,
and a 3-yard touchdown run by Emmitt Smith on Dallas' next series
gave the Cowboys a 14-13 lead going into the fourth quarter.
However, Aikman, who had thrown four interceptions once in his
12-year career, never saw Barrow in throwing his fifth.
Seven plays later, Dayne capped the best day of his rookie
season by plowing up the middle for the go-ahead touchdown. A
2-point conversion run by Barber failed.
"He's a great explosive back and all he needs is touches,"
Giants tackle Lomas Brown said of Dayne, who had 21 carries.
"I just want to be a member of a winning team," Dayne said.
"I don't care if I run for four yards, 30 yards or 100."
The Giants earlier squandered two other scoring chances and that
almost came back to haunt them. Aikman drove the Cowboys from their
23 to the New York 14, and a roughing-the-quarterback call against
Keith Hamilton with 11 seconds to go gave Dallas a first down at
the 14. But following a sack, Aikman's last-second toss to the end
zone was batted away by Jessie Armstead.
"You get down on yourself," said Aikman, who has thrown seven
interceptions in the last two games. "You get disappointed in
yourself. I expect more out of myself. As far as losing confidence
as far as what I can do, that won't ever happen."
The only other time Aikman threw four interceptions was in 1989,
his rookie season, against Green Bay.
Four interceptions on Sunday came in the first half, all on bad
throws, including a game-opening bomb that Jason Sehorn picked off.
Sehorn broke a rib under his collarbone on the play and left the
game.
The Giants didn't get on the board until Dave Thomas got the
third interception at the Dallas 21. An 11-yard run by Dayne got a
first-and-goal, and Collins capped the drive by finding tight end
Pete Mitchell all alone on a fourth-down rollout from the 1 midway
through the second quarter.
Aikman had a chance to tie the game late in the half, but he
underthrew a wide-open Damon Hodge. Reggie Stephens intercepted in
the end zone.
A 47-yard run by Barber on the opening series of the second half
set up the first of two short third-quarter field goals by Daluiso.
The 10-0 advantage didn't last long as Dallas' special teams and Smith
combined to score touchdowns on consecutive possessions.
Game notes
Three other Cowboys have thrown five interceptions:
Steve Pelluer, Danny White and Eddie Lebaron. ... Dallas had scored
on all 13 possessions inside the 20 prior to Sunday, but converted
only 2 of 4. ... The touchdown by Robert Thomas was the first of
his career. ... The Giants are 11-1 in games before a bye. They are
2-9 coming out of the break, including losses in the last four. ...
Giants receiver Amani Toomer, who set a record with 79 catches last
year, was benched in the second quarter and replaced by Joe
Jurevicius.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
NY Giants Clubhouse
Broken rib may sideline Sehorn for three weeks
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jim Fassel is happy with the Giants' defense.
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