National Football League

Jacobs leads Giants past Cowboys

Published Dec. 7, 2009 2:26 a.m. ET

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Ever since he was a child, Brandon Jacobs has felt one emotion toward the Dallas Cowboys: hatred.

So when the New York Giants running back sparked a 31-24 victory over Dallas on Sunday that scrambled the NFC East standings, he couldn't have been more thrilled.

"It's the biggest play of my career," Jacobs said of taking a short pass from Eli Manning and going 74 yards for a touchdown that put the Giants in front to stay. "It's extra special against Dallas. That's absolutely a team I can't stand. I've been hating Dallas ever since I knew anything about football."


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Jacobs' touchdown was the Giants' longest play of the season - for about 14 minutes. Then Domenik Hixon broke a 79-yard punt return, and suddenly the division is totally up for grabs. Dallas (8-4) and Philadelphia are tied for the lead, with New York (7-5) one game back. The Giants host the Eagles next week and have swept the Cowboys for the first time in five years.

Hixon clinched it by surpassing Jacobs' effort with a scintillating 79-yard punt runback in which he ran into a pile, got free, cut right and down the sideline behind a stream of solid blocks.

"It's a credit to the 10 guys up front," Hixon said. "They knew we were close, and today we finally broke it.

"Every time I get on the field, I have the mindset of taking it all the way."

Jacobs doesn't. He's a bruising, power runner. But he showed his versatility when he broke down the sideline and outran the pursuit.

"I was looking to get 15 to 20 yards," he admitted. "I had no idea I would go the distance."

Was he winded by the end?

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