The New York Giants dealt the Cowboys a serious blow upstaging them in a 31-24 victory at Giants Stadium .

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo threw two early touchdown passes to Roy Williams but with the game well poised heading into the fourth quarter with the Giants leading 21-17, the Cowboys let the game slip away.

A missed Nick Folk field goal attempt from 42 yards and the Giants' Domenik Hixon's 74-yard punt return touchdown did the damage, Romo's third touchdown pass of the night in a 392-yard game proving merely a consolation.

The Cowboys remained on top of the NFC East at 8-4 with the Eagles possessing the same record and the Giants on 7-5.

The San Diego Chargers, meanwhile, kept their noses in front at the top of AFC West with a 30-33 road win over the Cleveland Browns that takes them to 9-3, the home side slipping to 1-11.

In Seattle, the Seahawks overcame NFC West rivals San Francisco 20-17, to leave the 49ers with the same record, both teams at 5-7 behind the 7-4 Arizona Cardinals.

The NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals spoiled another record-breaking night for Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre with a 30-17 win over the NFC North-leading Vikings at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Favre was playing his 283rd consecutive game, an NFL record for a non-kicker or punter, beating the previous mark set by former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall, but Minnesota slipped to 10-2 as opposite number Kurt Warner, 38, threw three touchdown passes before half-time.

The 40-year-old Favre was intercepted twice in the third quarter and although he finished with a late touchdown pass, his second of the game, the Cardinals' three second half field goals made it Warner's night as Arizona moved to 8-4.