text: Both teams then exchanged punts with the Cowboys starting a drive at their own 4-yard line.  The Cowboys then went on a ten play, five minute drive that went 96 yards for the game-tying touchdown. Marion Barber, making his first start of the season after leading the Cowboys in rushing touchdowns on the season (combined with Julius Jones's declining performance), was the key factor for the drive, rushing for 72 yards on the drive including a 36-yard run.  On the first play of the second quarter, Tony Romo threw a fade to Terrell Owens, who caught the ball and kept both feet in bounds for the touchdown.  A Chris Canty sack of Eli Manning forced a punt on the Giants's next possession, and the Cowboys started their next drive on their own 10-yard line.  The Cowboys went on a 20-play, 90-yard drive where they converted 5 third downs.  Barber capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to make it 14–7 Cowboys with 1:01 to go in the first half.
  With the Cowboys dominating the game at this point outside of the Giants's opening touchdown, the Giants needed at least a field goal in order to keep themselves in the game.  Rookie receiver Steve Smith got the Giants going with two receptions for 33 yards, then Eli Manning found Kevin Boss on a corner route for 19 yards to put the Giants at the 4-yard line with 17 seconds left in the half.  On the next play, Manning found Toomer on a crossing route, and he lunged into the end zone for the touchdown with 11 seconds left in the half.  The score was tied at 14 at the half.