NFL Playoff Updates: New York Giants Snatch NFC Wild-Card After Dealing 2nd Loss to Dallas Cowboys

Dec 12, 2016 07:55 AM EST

On Sunday, the New York Giants officially ended the Dallas Cowboys' long-running winning streak with a 10-7 victory. Aside from preventing the Cowboys from securing the NFC East, the Giants were also able to secure their position as the division's top wild-card team.

The New York squad entered Sunday's game without a feeling if intimidation for the Cowboys. After all, they were the only team in the NFC that was able to deliver the Dallas franchise' first loss at Week 1, which was the debut game of former backup quarterback Dak Prescott following Tony Romo's injury.

At Week 14, the Giants were able to successfully replicate their Week 1 victory over the Cowboys. As noted by Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the team's defense was the driving force behind the huge win.

"Talk about us winning, the defense, holding the game down against clearly one of the best teams in the league," he said. "They got two young guys over there doing their thing and one of the best receivers in the league, and the defense found a way to hold them to seven points. That's really the story."

Prior to the loss, the Cowboys were poised to take on the NFC East title. But, after falling to the Giants, the Dallas squad has lost the chance to secure that title, which marks the second time in three years.

As for the Giants, the win certainly alleviated immense pressure on the team to make it to the playoffs. Prior to Sunday's game, the New York squad was in danger of missing a playoffs appearance for the fifth straight year. In order to do so, the Giants need to win at least two of its last couple of games to remain a contender, according to ESPN.

After defeating the mighty Cowboys, the Giants now have bigger chance of appearing at the post season games. The victory also helped the team in securing the wild-card post for the NFC.

Dallas, on the other hand, was certainly shocked by the loss and has served as a reality check for the entire team. With their playoff chances now at steak, and after losing NFC East, the team could consider reinstating the veteran Romo to replace Prescott as the starting quarterback.