IRVING, Texas – The New York Giants aren’t just winning. They’re doing the kind of things winning teams do.

Like making a stand on fourth-and-1 deep in their own territory, then again at midfield in the fourth quarter. Like using a drive-reviving defensive penalty as a springboard to the go-ahead touchdown. And not giving up on Tiki Barber after a slow start, leading to a 58-yard run on that pivotal drive.

Barber finished with 122 yards rushing and a touchdown and Steve Christie kicked four field goals, lifting the Giants past the Cowboys 26-10 yesterday.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Giants, who now head into into their bye week.

At game’s end, Tom Coughlin ran to shake hands with Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, his former boss and sometimes nemesis. This was Coughlin’s second win against him in five tries.

Then Parcells blamed himself for the failed fourth-down attempts, although he added he wouldn’t have needed to try creating momentum if Dallas (2-2) had played better.

In addition to 11 penalties, the Cowboys’ first fourth-down failure left them with no points after driving to New York’s 5 and they squandered a 2-minute drill before halftime with a fumble that led to Christie’s second field goal.

“We’re just stupid,” Parcells said. “We’re just dumb.”

A tight game for 2 1/2 quarters tilted toward the Giants when a questionable roughing-the-punter penalty gave them a fresh start from their 28. Jeff Feagles drew the flag by dropping his leg on top of Dallas’ Keith Davis, who was crouching to avoid contact. Feagles fell, then got up and complained, helping convince officials he’d been decked.

On the next play, Barber came back with his long burst down the left sideline. Two personal fouls against Dallas kept the drive alive and Kurt Warner capped it with a 1-yard pass to Jeremy Shockey, putting the Giants up 13-10.

Dallas answered by reaching the Giants 27, then Osi Umenyiora sacked Vinny Testaverde on third down. Forced to try a 52-yard field goal, Billy Cundiff came up short. New York turned it into a 47-yarder by Christie.

Then Parcells panicked. Down only six with about 10:30 left, he opted to go on fourth-and-1 from his 43. A swing pass to fullback Darian Barnes was stopped for no gain.

Coughlin’s knowledge of Parcells may have paid off as the Giants’ defense spread the field instead of packing the middle, as it did on the first try – a run, like the Giants were expecting.

Christie capped the ensuing possession with a 26-yarder, making him 4-for-4 after an ugly three-miss performance the previous week.

Barber put the game away on the next drive, first by turning a third-and-10 pass into a 55-yard gain, then with a 3-yard touchdown run.