DALLAS 10, NY GIANTS 15

   
   The New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys, 15-10, to close the
   season with their sixth straight win, but could not stave off playoff
   elimination. 
   
   New York (9-7) needed a victory, coupled with a Tampa Bay triumph over
   Green Bay, to qualify for the playoffs. The Buccaneers were ripped by
   the Packers, 34-19. Green Bay had an 8-4 record against NFC opponents,
   while New York was 6-6. 
   
   "It was a good win for us. We took care of what we had to take care
   of," said Giants coach Dan Reeves. "We are sorry that our season is
   over. We are disappointed. We really didn't control the thing. During
   the season, we knew how important the conference games were. That is
   what hurt us as far as being 9-7 and possibly making the playoffs. The
   losses within our conference hurt us. We had a chance to win in some
   of those games. But I am extremely happy for our team -- for the win
   and the way that we ended the season." 
   
   Reeves said it was difficult to follow the progress of the Green
   Bay-Tampa Bay game. 
   
   "They certainly didn't put any scores up there (on the scoreboard),"
   he said. "I don't know whose decision it was, but it wasn't mine. I
   certainly wanted to know how the heck they were doing. Nobody asked
   me. Finally, in the third quarter, I asked the coaches upstairs, 'Have
   you seen a score anywhere? Am I missing it or what?' They said, 'No,
   we haven't seen any scores.' I said, 'What the hell is happening? Are
   we not putting them up?' " 
   
   The Giants were trying to become the first team in NFL history to lose
   seven straight games and make the playoffs. New York snapped a
   five-game skid against Dallas and broke the Cowboys' 14-game winning
   streak against NFC East opponents. 
   
   "It was a special year," said Giants tight end Howard Cross. "The team
   showed a lot of character." 
   
   Rodney Hampton rushed for 91 yards and became the first player in
   Giants' history to reach the 1,000-yard mark in four different
   seasons. He finished with 1,075 yards. 
   
   Dallas (12-4) played without injured running back Emmitt Smith, who
   rested an ailing left hamstring. 
   
   "I knew I wasn't going to play," he said. "If I'm injured, I'm
   injured. I need my legs to perform. If I can't run, I can't play. I
   don't even know if I can run." 
   
   Quarterback Troy Aikman played into the second quarter before he was
   replaced by Rodney Peete and wide receiver Michael Irvin saw only
   limited action. 
   
   New York took the lead for good with a safety late in the third
   quarter. Peete was hit by linebacker Jessie Armstread and fumbled.
   Defensive end Keith Hamilton could not gain possession before the ball
   squirted out of the end zone as the Giants grabbed a 12-10 edge. 
   
   New York took the free kick and moved 41 yards in 10 plays before Brad
   Daluiso kicked a 30-yard field goal. Daluiso converted all 11 of his
   field-goal attempts after replacing David Treadwell in Week 14. 
   
   The Cowboys' Chris Boniol opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal
   late in the first quarter, but the Giants took a 7-3 lead on Dave
   Brown's 49-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sherrard just 16 seconds into
   the second period. 
   
   Daluiso added a 38-yard field goal to extend New York's lead to 10-3
   at halftime. 
   
   Former New York Jet Blair Thomas, who rushed for 63 yards on 18
   carries, dove over from the one-yard line with 11:01 left in the third
   quarter to lift Dallas into a 10-10 tie. Kevin Williams set up the
   touchdown with a 52-yard punt return. 
   
   Aikman completed 9-of-11 passes for 62 yards for the Cowboys, who lost
   for just the second time in their last 12 December games. 
   
   "I feel I threw the ball as well as I ever have here," he said. "I
   really feel that the week off will help this team. The time off will
   help." 
   
   The Giants opened the season with three straight wins, dropped seven
   in a row, then finished with six consecutive wins. 
   
   "Hopefully, next year we can start off hot and not go into a slump
   like this year," Sherrard said.