[h=3]By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY[/h]Updated
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Nine months after being knocked out of postseason contention, quarterback Tony Romo exacted a measure of revenge by leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 24-17 victory on kickoff night, delivering a butt-kicking to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Miles Austin (19) celebrates his fourth-quarter TD with Dez Bryant.
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The win backed up Dallas owner Jerry Jones' much-discussed training camp taunt.
Romo threw three touchdown passes, including a strike of 40 yards to wide receiver Kevin Ogletree in the third quarter and a 34-yarder to Miles Austin with 5:57 left that silenced a MetLife Stadium crowd of 82,500 that came to celebrate more Giants dominance.
Much-maligned Romo, often knocked for his failure to win a Lombardi Trophy in seven seasons as a starter, finally beat the NFC East rival that has helped keep the Cowboys from reaching the playoffs three times in the last four years.
Somewhere inside MetLife Stadium, Jones, who urged Dallas fans in July to come watch the Cowboys kick the Giants' butts, was smiling.
Romo, who hadn't beaten the Giants in his last five meetings, completed 22 of 29 passes for 307 yards.
Reigning Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning wasn't his high-powered passing self partly because of multiple drops his receivers, but also because of pressure from the Cowboys defense, which sacked him three times.
While the officials were expected to be a big focus as the league's lockout of the regulars continued, there were no controversies, no blatant mistakes or rampant confusion. The spotlight belonged squarely on the Cowboys, from Romo's touchdown passes to DeMarco Murray's 129 yards rushing to Ogletree's two scores.
Ogletree had 114 yards on eight catches; he had 25 receptions for 294 yards and no scores entering the game.
Contributing: Associated Press
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Nine months after being knocked out of postseason contention, quarterback Tony Romo exacted a measure of revenge by leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 24-17 victory on kickoff night, delivering a butt-kicking to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
By Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Miles Austin (19) celebrates his fourth-quarter TD with Dez Bryant.
Miles Austin (19) celebrates his fourth-quarter TD with Dez Bryant.
[h=2]Sponsored Links[/h]
The win backed up Dallas owner Jerry Jones' much-discussed training camp taunt.
Romo threw three touchdown passes, including a strike of 40 yards to wide receiver Kevin Ogletree in the third quarter and a 34-yarder to Miles Austin with 5:57 left that silenced a MetLife Stadium crowd of 82,500 that came to celebrate more Giants dominance.
- [h=3]PHOTOS: Top shots from the NFL season opener[/h]
Much-maligned Romo, often knocked for his failure to win a Lombardi Trophy in seven seasons as a starter, finally beat the NFC East rival that has helped keep the Cowboys from reaching the playoffs three times in the last four years.
Somewhere inside MetLife Stadium, Jones, who urged Dallas fans in July to come watch the Cowboys kick the Giants' butts, was smiling.
Romo, who hadn't beaten the Giants in his last five meetings, completed 22 of 29 passes for 307 yards.
Reigning Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning wasn't his high-powered passing self partly because of multiple drops his receivers, but also because of pressure from the Cowboys defense, which sacked him three times.
While the officials were expected to be a big focus as the league's lockout of the regulars continued, there were no controversies, no blatant mistakes or rampant confusion. The spotlight belonged squarely on the Cowboys, from Romo's touchdown passes to DeMarco Murray's 129 yards rushing to Ogletree's two scores.
Ogletree had 114 yards on eight catches; he had 25 receptions for 294 yards and no scores entering the game.
Contributing: Associated Press
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