Monday, September 21, 2009
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Lawrence Tynes sent home the largest crowd in NFL regular season history muttering about what might’ve been.
Tynes kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired, giving the New York Giants a 33-31 victory over the turnover-prone Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night and ruining the debut of their rival’s $1.15 billion stadium.
The Cowboys (1-1) went ahead 31-30 on a touchdown run by Felix Jones with 3:40 left.
It was the seventh lead change of a game in which neither team led by more than six points and it didn’t last.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo scored on a third-down keeper from 2 yards with 3:35 left in the third quarter, a play after throwing a pass that was too hot for Patrick Crayton to handle in the end zone.
After no turnovers in the season-opening victory at Tampa Bay, Romo had three interceptions through three quarters in the home opener, but was leading the game.
A record crowd of 105,121 fans attended the opening game, including up to 30,000 fans crowded into standing-room party plazas at either end of the stadium. Some of them arrived up to 10 hours before kickoff to get the best viewing spot. About 75,000 more fans filled the seats for the Cowboys’ first regular season game in their new stadium.