Giants edge Cowboys to keep NFC East hopes alive ahead of SNF

The New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 23-19 to keep their NFC East hopes alive with one divisional game still to be played in Week 17.

The Washington Football Team would win the division with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. If Washington loses, New York will take the division crown and advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The Giants began the regular-season finale in style, scoring on the opening possession with a 23-yard touchdown run from Sterling Shepard. They took a 20-9 advantage into halftime but nearly blew it late in the fourth quarter.

With the Cowboys driving down the field and 1:24 left to go, rookie Xavier McKinney intercepted Andy Dalton in the end zone. New York looked to run out the clock on the ensuing possession, but Wayne Gallman inexplicably fumbled on the second play of the drive with nobody near him.

Officials ruled on the field that Gallman recovered his own fumble, and the ruling was upheld upon video review.

"I sat on the ball first, and then I grabbed it," said Gallman, who finished the afternoon with 11 carries for 65 yards, according to the New York Post's Paul Schwartz. "I'm sorry I caused drama."

With the win, the Giants finished the regular season with a 6-10 record, their best mark since 2016 when they went 11-5. The Cowboys dropped to 6-10, giving the franchise its worst season since 2015 when Dallas finished 4-12.