Behind Warner, Coughlin led the Giants to five wins in their first seven games. However, with the team having lost their next two, Coughlin decided that Warner, who had been struggling, could no longer do the job and began starting the highly touted Manning beginning in the tenth game. The coach received criticism from some who felt the move amounted to a surrender of the 2004 season, as their 5–4 record meant the Giants were still in playoff contention. Manning did in fact struggle and the Giants' losing streak reached eight games before Manning defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the final game of the season.