Toomer scores just before half time

Also see

• Schedule
• On Sky TV
• Messageboards

The New York Giants gained revenge for two regular season losses to Dallas with a 21-17 play-off success over the Cowboys in Texas.

Quarterback Eli Manning threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Giants toppled the top seeds in the NFC to improve to 9-1 on the road this season.

However, it was their injury-hit defence that came up big, holding the potent Dallas offence to just a field goal in the second half despite being without several starters.

RW McQuarters intercepted Tony Romo in the end zone to seal the victory with nine seconds remaining in the first play-off meeting of the divisional rivals.

The Giants will now travel to the Green Bay Packers next Sunday to decide who will be going to the Super Bowl in Arizona.

Shock defeat

As for the Cowboys, their shock defeat means they are the first number one seed in the NFC to lose since the NFL went to its current play-off format in 1990.

It also extends their losing run in the play-off to six games, with head coach Wade Phillips now 0-4 in the post season.

Romo completed 18-of-36 passes for 201 yards and had a touchdown pass to Terrell Owens, playing on an injured ankle, at the start of the second quarter.

Running back Marion Barber - who finished with 129 yards on 27 carries - also found the end zone before half time, finishing off a 10-minute, 90-yard drive with a one-yard run.

New York had sensationally opened the scoring with a 52-yard pass from Manning to receiver Amani Toomer on the opening drive of the game.

The pair also teamed up again with seven seconds to go at the end of the second quarter, crucially levelling the scores at 14 apiece.

Momentum-builder

"Getting that touchdown right before half time was big," Manning - who was 0-2 in the play-offs before this year - said afterwards.

"They had all the momentum. Our defense was gassed. They had been out on the field for so long. To get a touchdown right there and tie it up before half time was a real momentum-builder for our team."

The Cowboys went ahead with a Nick Folk field goal with 6:53 left in the third quarter - their third successive scoring drive.

But the three-point lead did not last too long, McQuarters' 25-yard punt return laying the platform for Brandon Jacobs to rumble in from one yard out, putting the Giants into a lead that they would not surrender.

Romo attempted to engineer a late comeback but too often Dallas shot themselves in the foot with penalties, while the offensive line also struggled to protect their starting QB.