Unfortunately for Adams and the Cowboys , there's no escaping that something seems to overcome them when the calendar flips over to the final month.

"I have no idea why it happens, but I really wish I did," wide receiver Patrick Crayton said. "I'm disappointed and angry."

With games against two division leaders up next, the Cowboys better find an answer soon.

Sparked by Brandon Jacobs' 74-yard catch-and-run touchdown late in the third quarter and Domenik Hixon's 79-yard punt return for a score in the fourth, the Giants overcame a 10-0 first-half deficit to sweep the season series for the first time in five years. Dallas (8-4) fell into a first-place tie with Philadelphia. New York (7-5) is one game back with four to play.

The Giants host the Eagles next week, while the Cowboys , who are 15-27 in regular-season games after November this decade, host San Diego (9-3).

"We've got to challenge ourselves and find a way to play," tight end Jason Witten said. "We have to get back to it and forget all this December stuff. I'm not trying to avoid it or say it's not true, but we've got to get back to it and put it away. If you let another one slip, you are really in trouble."

The Giants overcame outstanding efforts by several Cowboys , including Witten, Tony Romo, Roy Williams and Miles Austin.

Witten had 14 receptions, including his 500th career catch, for a career-high 156 yards. With New York putting eight men on the line of scrimmage to hold the Cowboys to a season-low 45 rushing yards, Romo completed 41 of 55 passes for 392 yards - all career highs - with no interceptions and three TDs, including two to Williams for his first multi-score game with Dallas. Austin finished with 10 receptions for 104 yards and a TD.

"It's always hard to lose, but we still control our own destiny, and we have to take advantage of that and be prepared for the fullest to face the Chargers," said Romo, who is 5-9 in December.

Aided by a Marion Barber fumble, the Giants got back into the game by scoring 14 points in the final 1:46 of the first half.

Before the teams left the field for halftime, they engaged in some pushing and trash talk after Adams shoved New York defensive end Justin Tuck following a missed 57-yard field goal by the Cowboys' Nick Folk.

"It just proves what kind of a dirtbag (Adams) is," said Tuck, who injured his shoulder in the Giants' 33-31 win when Adams tripped him. "It takes a coward and some more words I can't say right here to push a guy in the back when the play is dead."

Williams' second TD catch put Dallas back in front 17-14 late in the third quarter, but the Giants answered on the first play of their next possession. Eli Manning threw a flare pass that Jacobs turned into what he called "the biggest play of his career."

In outracing linebacker Anthony Spencer down the sideline, Jacobs gave New York a 21-17 lead with 3:39 left in the quarter. The Giants never trailed again, adding a 23-yard field goal and Hixon's score. Romo hit Austin for a 22-yard TD with 58 seconds left.

"It's extra-special against Dallas," Jacobs said. "That is absolutely a team I can't stand. I've been hating Dallas ever since I knew anything about Football."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips took the blame for the play, saying he mistakenly focused on stopping tight end Kevin Boss, thinking the Giants would send him deep.

"We were in zone defense, and we haven't been giving up anything the whole year (in that scheme), and somehow they got a big play on us," Phillips said. "They didn't complete that many passes, but the ones they did were big plays."

There were other mistakes. Orlando Scandrick, Pat Watkins, Bobby Carpenter and Deon Anderson missed tackles on Hixon's return; Romo overthrew a wide-open Williams with 4:06 left, and Sam Hurd touched Dallas' last-minute onside kick before it traveled 10 yards.

"December is the dash for cash, so we don't have a chance to say, 'Oh, poor me,'" linebacker Bradie James said.

If the Cowboys continue to play like they did Sunday, they'll likely finish out of the money.