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Dottino's Game Balls, Gassers: Defensive Line Does Giants In

By Paul Dottino
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It's been that kind of season for the Giants (3-8), who have officially been eliminated in the NFC East.

Odell Beckham Jr. can make one of the most acrobatic catches in NFL history and the team still comes up short in the end, suffering its sixth straight loss in a 31-28 thriller to the Dallas Cowboys.

Let's not waste any more time on the game and get to our review:

GAME BALLS

Offense: WR Odell Beckham Jr. -- You'll read about and see replays of the backward-diving, one-handed 43-yard TD stab inside the right-front pylon despite pass interference from CB Brandon Carr for the rest of eternity, as well you should. It gave the Giants a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter and it looked like the kind of play that might even turn around the team's season.

Well, you know the rest. But let's not ignore the fact that Beckham finished with 10 catches (on 11 targets) for 146 yards and two touchdowns. And he's got only a bit more than a month of NFL playing experience. Wow.

Defense: None

Special Teams: P Steve Weatherford -- He punted extremely well, drilling the ball over the returner's head on his kicks for a 55.0 average and a 38.0 net.

GASSERS

Offense: Rashad Jennings -- This was a tough one. Eli Manning was off by a fraction on a couple of key passes, including the one that Preston Parker tipped into a game-turning interception at the Dallas goal line. But we'll give it to Jennings, who was involved in two failed plays on the Giants' final possession.

With 1:01 left at the Giants' 20, Jennings dropped a short dump-off pass. On fourth-and-2, he was stopped a few inches short by LB Rolando McClain as Dallas took over the ball on downs to seal it.

Defense: The entire defensive line -- How many times do we have to talk about finishing off a sack? The Giants had just five QB hits (including two sacks) and, more importantly, gave Tony Romo WAY too much time to operate in the second half.

Even when they sent extra pressure, the Giants could not get there in time. On the winning drive, Romo had nearly seven seconds apiece on completions to TE Jason Witten (15 yards to the Giants' 36) and Dez Bryant, who caught the deciding 13-yard TD pass with 1:01 left.

Special Teams: None -- Weatherford did such a good job of booming his punts over the head of punt returner Dwayne Harris that it was difficult for the coverage team to get downfield in time. Despite 68 return yards on four punts, the unit's net was a solid 38.0.

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