National Football League

Jacobs shows speed and leadership

Published Dec. 12, 2009 8:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

Brandon Jacobs spent much of last week verbally inspiring his teammates. Then he let his stunningly quick feet do the talking in the New York Giants' most crucial game of the season.

Jacob's fifth NFL season has not been one of his best. Not only was he dissatisfied with his stats, which lack even one 100-yard rushing game, but Jacobs felt he hadn't measured up as a team leader.

So he loosened up his vocal cords in the buildup to the NFC East showdown with first-place Dallas.

``I think I need to be more of a leader every game,'' Jacobs said after New York's 31-24 victory scrambled the division standings. ``I think my ability to lead this team lately has been terrible.

``I need to pick up that leadership.''

And the best way to do so is to make a game-changing play. Perhaps even a season changer.

The bruising 264-pound Jacobs - teammate Justin Tuck joked that the 6-foot-4 Jacobs weighs closer to 290 - took a short pass from Eli Manning in the third quarter Sunday night and outran the Cowboys down the sideline for a 74-yard score. Jacobs' run covered about 70 yards of the go-ahead TD, showing speed that even coach Tom Coughlin admitted he didn't know Jacobs possessed.

From there, the Giants added Domenik Hixon's 79-yard punt return touchdown, and now they are back in the hunt in the NFC East at 7-5, one game behind co-leaders Dallas and Philadelphia.

``This is the first time we beat Dallas twice in the same season in my five years,'' Jacobs said. ``We're not scared of them.''

For the Giants to scare anybody, they need a solid ground game. They entered Week 13 ranked 10th in the league in rushing, but that was as much a tribute to backup Ahmad Bradshaw as to Jacobs. While Jacobs has 722 yards on the ground this season, Bradshaw has 596 in 55 fewer attempts.

Jacobs felt the need to ratchet up his commentary and his play. While he rushed for only 39 yards against Dallas, he did score twice and had that 74-yard touchdown, the longest play of his career.

``Vocally, I felt I was not where I was supposed to be and the guys were not responding to me,'' Jacobs said. ``I was not really trying that hard (as a leader). This week, I came in being a vocal leader and telling the guys, 'Let's go.'

``The thing about being a leader is you have to go out and perform and do well to get guys to listen to you. If you are slacking, guys look at you and say, 'You're not doing a thing.'''

He did plenty against Dallas, drawing praise from all quarters.

``We all know the electrifying play, which was outstanding,'' Coughlin said Monday. ``He also did a nice job on the goal line, stayed down low and took the would-be tacklers on head-on with force.''

When Jacobs is a force, the Giants' offense becomes balanced and versatile.

``I just had to do a little work and let Brandon do the rest,'' Manning said. ``It was just a fun thing to kind of sit back and watch.''

Tuck has watched how diligent Jacobs has remained despite not having the numbers he's posted in the past. That impressed him just as much as the big play that victimized the Cowboys.

``Brandon is not having the big plays he's been having in past years, but he continues to practice and work hard,'' Tuck said. ``I was glad to see him break out like that. ... We've come to expect that from him.''

The Giants have another huge division game on Sunday night when they host the Eagles, who beat them 40-17 in Philadelphia in Week 8.

Notes: Coughlin said right guard Chris Snee's knee is sore and called the injury a hyperflexion. Snee, who is Coughlin's son-in-law, is day to day ... PK Lawrence Tynes banged his elbow making a tackle, but Coughlin didn't sound concerned.