2) 1/1/2012: NY Giants defeat Dallas Cowboys, 31-14
New Year’s wasn’t the only thing celebrated on this day, as a NY Giants’ division championship was won in 2012 as they took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys.
The tone was set in the first quarter with a 74 yard Victor Cruz touchdown, and the Giants would take a 21-0 lead into halftime. The Cowboys would make things interesting in the second half, but these Giants wouldn’t let them come back.
Following a huge win over the New York Jets the week prior, Cruz and the Giants used that momentum to guide them to their sole division title of the decade and more, going on to defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 46.
Perhaps no win on Sunday Night Football featured higher stakes, as without this win, there is no Super Bowl victory.
Eli Manning continued the best season of his career in this game, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He put the Giants on his back, as he did most of the 2011 season.
With the Giants in the hunt for the division title again this season, they continue chasing the greatness that this team possessed. In the NFC East, division titles are hard to come by, but this win was a sweet as it gets.
It’s a win that will always stick out when you think of the run this team went on, but it’s not the number one win .. still though, an amazing moment.