It isn’t my imagination.  NBC’s evening telecast of the NFL features the Skycam.  In tonight’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, I thought that perhaps the end zone cameras were somehow replicating the same point-of-view, but then the Skycam actually made an appearance at the top of the screen twice, if memory serves correctly, during the entire game.

Despite the injuries suffered by the Giants (including one to the shoulder of their quarterback Eli Manning), both teams  performed very well tonight.  The Giants made the first touchdown (of 60 yards to boot) of the whole game in the first minute of game-play (thanks to wide receiver Plaxico Burress in the first quarter).  They were able to get three field goals and three more touchdowns (courtesy of Burress in the bottom of the second and fourth quarters and running back Derrick Ward in the fourth quarter), giving them 35 points, but the Cowboys were able to hold on better both defensively and offensively.

The Cowboys’ 45 points came from one field and six touchdowns (secured by running back Marion Barber and Witten in the second quarter, wide receiver Terrell Owens in the third and fourth quarters, quarterback Tony Romo in the bottom of the third quarter, and wide receiver Sam Hurd in the bottom of the fourth quarter).

Observations & Trivia:

1. For the love of Odin, that opening song number from the season opener evidently wasn’t unique to the Colts vs. Saints game.  Noooooo.  It’s going to be the opening number for every season game on NFL Sunday for 2007.   I understand the monetary incentives (sponsors and endorsements etc), but mon dieu.  C’est absurd; c’est stupide.  C’est fromage.  Le tout.

2.  I didn’t think Eli Manning and his brother Payton looked much alike last year, but this year the resemblance is stronger, especially in the mouth area and with a cap rather than a helmet (that is Eli looks more like his brother).

3.  The NBC teardrop down/yard graphic might not be a teardrop after all.  In fact, it might actually be one of the feathers from the NBC peacock.  Regardez:

4.  Terrell Owens’s first TD for the night was also the first play of the third quarter.

5. Tony Romo’s TD was also the first of his professional career.

Read more about the game here.  Get the game stats and play by play here.

PS.  I’ve added a new link to the Museum of Broadcasting Communications web site where you can browse the first edition of their encyclopedia for good sample of culturally and historically significant people and organizations related to American television.  I’ve also created a page with links to every sports related entry.  

pic cred: google image search