By Larry Fine
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys shocked the New York Giants 33-20 Sunday in a game that was interrupted by two power outages that left the $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium in complete darkness.
Dallas, mixing their run attack with some big plays in the passing game, established a 19-6 lead at the half and then withstood some faulty lighting to overpower the Giants.
A section of lights went out over one end of the field early in the third quarter but play continued.
About 10 minutes later a blackout left the stadium in total darkness for a few seconds while the flicker of flash bulbs from the 80,851 people in attendance sparkled in the night.
Play resumed after about seven minutes.
The Giants, however, were unable to restore order to their offensive attack or defense and the energized Cowboys rambled to a stunning victory.
"We gave up some big plays and didn't make enough big plays," said New York coach Tom Coughlin.
Dallas quarterback Jon Kitna threw for 327 yards including touchdown passes to rookie Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Felix Jones, who galloped 71 yards after hauling in a short pass.
The Cowboys also got the franchise's longest interception return when Bryan McCann dashed 101 yards after he snatched an errant Eli Manning pass while the Giants were on the two yard line and trailing 9-3 in the second quarter.
"Bryan's play was huge in the game," Garrett said about his young back-up cornerback, playing in place of Mike Jenkins, who was sidelined during the game with a strained neck. "That was potentially a 14-point swing. If you're looking for one play that changed the game, that was it."
Kitna also pinpointed the McCann's play as crucial.
"You can't say enough about McCann," the quarterback said. "When you go 101 yards, when they can get at least three points or maybe seven, that's a game-changer."
Coughlin said his players fought back and had chances, noting a fourth-quarter fourth-and-one play that the Giants failed to convert and an apparent touchdown to Hakeem Nicks that was called back for offensive holding.
"I thought we had the ball in the end zone with seven minutes left," Coughlin said about the Nicks catch that was nullified. "It was too little, too late. We just didn't play well enough to win."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
