EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ The streak is over. The Dallas Cowboys are no longer perfect on the road.
And while they continue to control their own destiny for the NFC East title and the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, Sunday's 10-7 loss to the New York Giants raises serious questions about their ability to achieve their ultimate goal.
After losing 20-19 to the Giants in the season opener, the Cowboys reeled off a franchise-record 11 consecutive wins and became a betting favorite to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995.
At 11-2, the Cowboys still have a game lead over the Giants (9-4) in the NFC East and they remain two games ahead of the Giants and the Detroit Lions (9-4) for home-field advantage.
The Cowboys have a tough final slate.
They host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) next Sunday night before a Monday Night game against the hot Lions Dec. 26.
They close the season at the Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) on Jan. 1.
But momentum and confidence are suddenly no longer on the Cowboys side after being swept by the Giants and seemingly trending down on offense by rookie quarterback Dak Prescott.
A 61-yard touchdown pass Eli Manning to receiver Odell Beckham Jr. proved to be difference in the game on the scoreboard.
The score came two plays after Prescott was intercepted for the second time in the game.
Prescott was intercepted twice through the first 12 games, but had two against the Giants.
Receiver Dez Bryant was knocked off his route, playing a part in the interception. The story was similar in the first half when Bryant slipped on a route, allowing Janoris Jenkins to pick the pass off.
But it was Prescott's inability to convert third downs and generate any offense in the passing game for the second consecutive week that are causes for growing concern.
Prescott completed 17 of 37 passes for 165 yards with a putrid quarterback rating of 45.4 against the Giants. It was by far his worst game of the season.
It was his third consecutive game of 200 yards passing. He had 195 against the Washington Redskins in a 24-17 victory on Thanksgiving Day and just 139 in a 17-15 victory against the Minnesota Vikings Dec. 1.
The Cowboys were one of nine on third downs against the Vikings.
They were two of 15 against the Giants.
On the Cowboys final possession, Prescott connected with receiver Dez Bryant for a first down. Bryant fumbled after being hit by Janoris Jenkins. Landon Collins recovered to give the ball back to the Giants with 2:13 left.
It was Bryant's first catch of the game after being held empty for more than three quarters.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed 24 times for 107 yards, but it made no difference.
The loss offset a strong performance by the maligned defense that recorded three sacks and two turnovers against the Giants. It was the first time Cowboys recorded multiple sacks and turnovers in a game this season.
The defense is also kicking itself because of two dropped interceptions from safety Barry Church, the second of which would have put the Cowboys in scoring position early third quarter.
It was a struggle throughout for the Cowboys, who also lament a missed 55-yard field goal from the normally-reliable Dan Bailey at the end of the first half.
The ball hit the cross bar as time expired.
The Cowboys led 7-0 at halftime, thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to wide receiver Terrance Williams on the second drive of the game.
Coach Jason Garrett sparked the score with a gutsy fourth and 1 gamble at the Cowboys 42.
Elliott got the first down with a 2-yard gain.
Elliott then ripped of runs of 9, 8 and 3 yards.
That's when offensive coordinator Scott Linehan caught the Giants napping. Prescott faked a pitch left to Elliott and then bootlegged right. He found Williams running wide open behind the defense for the score.
But that would it for the night for the offense.
