--QB Eli Manning had a poor game statistically, seeing as how he was constantly under pressure. He completed 18 of 35 passes for 191 yards, two interceptions, zero TDs and finished with a passer rating of 43.9. Prior to this game, his season rating was 90.1.

--MLB Antonio Pierce had his second straight "off game," getting beaten on some of the pass coverage assignments. He has looked, perhaps incorrectly, like a man who has lost a little speed. Of course, he disagrees. "It's got to stop," he said. "We are not playing ball good enough. So obviously we're losing games. Something's got to change." Normally among the top two or three tacklers each game, Pierce had only two against the Cowboys.

--TE Kevin Boss seemed to disagree with the use of the word "slump" to describe what has happened to the team. "Whatever it is, we can fix it," he said. "I don't think it's the offensive line. It's the whole offense."

REPORT CARD VS. COWBOYS

PASSING OFFENSE: D -- QB Eli Manning was generally ineffective, managing an offense that gained only 218 total net yards and converted only three of 13 third-down opportunities. However, several of his passes were dropped when they should have been completions. Showing that despite his denials he really does miss WR Plaxico Burress (suspended for the rest of the season), he completed six passes to Plaxico's replacement, Domenik Hixon -- but for only 60 yards. For an offense that so often throws to the running backs, he completed only one pass each to Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward. He wasn't well protected, being sacked a season-high eight times, and he was frequently throwing under pressure, which resulted in several high and wide attempts. The offensive line was simply dreadful with LT David Diehl allowing three of the eight sacks. RT Kareem McKenzie (back) and LG Rich Seubert (flu) left the game in the early part of the second half and their replacements (Kevin Boothe and Grey Ruegamer) were not adequate. There was only one completion to the TE position (Kevin Boss caught it for 23 yards); utilization of that position is another Giants offensive trademark.

RUSHING OFFENSE: D -- Without RB Brandon Jacobs it was felt that his replacement, Derrick Ward, would be able to carry the load. Not so, apparently. He had 14 carries and gained only 64 yards, while the fleet Ahmad Bradshaw was given just three carries and gained eight yards. There were only those 17 rushing plays, which completely went against the team's stated desire for offensive balance. Eli Manning threw 35 times. The blocking was significantly less effective for the running plays, which also highlighted the extent to which the Giants missed the 6-4, 265-pound Brandon Jacobs, who clearly makes some of his running room through brute force. The blocking received from the TE position (Boss, Michael Matthews, Darcy Johnson) was painfully inadequate.

PASS DEFENSE: B-minus -- Frankly, the Dallas passing attack wasn't much better than what Manning produced -- with the exception that Tony Romo was sacked only half as much (four times for 23 yards) and managed two TD passes, one yard to FB Deon Anderson and 34 yards to WR Patrick Crayton. Romo completed 20 0f 30 for 244 yards and did not throw an interception. Cowboys' OLT Flozell Adams contributed his usual two false start penalties while operating against RDE Mathias Kiwanuka and, overall, the offensive line wasn't that good -- which further highlights the ineffective performance of the Giants' pass defense. CB Aaron Ross was beaten badly on the Crayton TD reception and the linebackers, notably MLB Antonio Pierce, were deficient in pass coverage.

RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus -- The Cowboys gained exactly 100 yards on the ground, but much of that came on 38-yard TD run by rookie Tashard Choice, the points that finally put the game out of reach with 2:16 remaining in the game. The defense accounted for seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage and allowed only four first downs on the ground. DEs Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck each had five tackles, all but one of Kiwi's the solo variety. FS Michael Johnson was used several times as a run-force tackler in the Steve Spagnuolo defensive scheme and he, too, had five unassisted tackles. Playing without DT Fred Robbins the Giants lost their strength up the middle, although the other DT, Barry Cofield, played a strong gap game.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B -- The Giants' kick coverage units were reasonably effective, allowing only four punt returns for 34 yards and three kickoff returns for 76 yards. Punter Jeff Feagles continued to prove he can do it any way that's necessary, averaging 47.9 on seven punts (43.0 net) and yet putting three of his kicks inside the 20-yard line and out of bounds. R.W. McQuarters returned one punt for a measly eight yards; Ahmad Bradshaw had two kickoff returns, as did Sinorice Moss, and McQuarters had one -- all five totaled 101 yards and a 21.0 average. John Carney continued his near-perfect field goal kicking, making two of two (for 37 and 54 yards). He is now 29 of 30 for the season, and the missed effort was blocked after a wild snap.

COACHING: C -- The defensive coaching gets a higher score than the offensive effort. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, while not having one of his better games in terms of formations and schemes, did manage to give the Giants a chance to win, several of them in fact, but the offense continually failed to take advantage. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, perhaps working out of concern for the absence of RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Plaxico Burress (suspended for the rest of the season), kept his play-calling "vanilla" at best. Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn couldn't seem to generate enough schemes for kick coverage to be more effective, nor to open lanes for the Giants' returns to be more dangerous.