Cowboys @ Giants Preview
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The 1-7 Dallas Cowboys come to New Meadowlands Stadium this Sunday at 4:15pm to face the red-hot 6-2 New York Giants, who’ve won they’re last 5 in a row. The Giants are coming off a dominant performance in Seattle while the Cowboys are coming off a severely deflating loss on the road in Green Bay… a loss that cost former coach Wade Phillips his job. Former OC Jason Garrett was installed as the new Head Coach earlier this week, and the Cowboys will look to build some momentum with the new leadership in place, starting with their NFC East rival the NY Giants.
Let’s take a look at the OFFENSIVE COMPARISON:
The Cowboys lead slightly in passing yards and 3rd down conversions, but the Giants handle everything else in the comparison.
• The Giants double the amount of rushing yards per game – 150 to only 75 for the Cowboys. I look for that trend to continue this week as the Giants have run well on everybody they’ve faced this year, while the Giants rushing defense in the #1 ranked unit in the league. If Dallas succeeds on the ground for this game, I will be completely and utterly SHOCKED. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs — I look for them to get started early just like last game.
• The Giants passing game has come on strong lately, Eli is flirting with that 300 yard mark each and every game. He’s worked on minimizing his turnovers, but has been aggressive and sharp with his aerial attack even still. I look for the Giants to go right at the Cowboys with a balanced attack this week with some big pass plays for Nicks, Smith, and Manningham to stretch the Dallas pass defense out until they collapse.
• If you saw last week’s game with the Cowboys losing big to the Packers… you still have to admit that Jon Kitna has an arm. He can chuck it — I saw several tight spirals, they weren’t all caught mind you but I still think he has arm strength to go up top and try to get the best of the Giants safeties. Dez Bryant is still dangerous, and Miles Austin is extremely fast and athletic. This could be the game where Dallas turns it all around on offense.
On the other side of the ball – DEFENSE:
The Giants have got it goin’ on right now defensively. The Gmen are the #1 Defense in the league. Rushing, passing – both #2 rankings and barely so… they may end up being the #1 defense across the board as far as NFL stats are concerned after this week.
The Cowboys cannot stop the run, first of all. The Giants clearly can. The only team better is the Steelers who are off-the-chain good at run stopping.
The Giants are only 3 yards shy of having the best pass defense in the league as well… the Cowboys give up 50 yards per game more on defense. They’re average at best. And after the shallacking the Packers gave their secondary last week, I think Eli will move the ball through the air extremely well this week.
The Cowboys cannot stop teams from scoring. The Giants have done pretty well there only allowing 20 points per game. That is a HUGE improvement from last year.
By this comparison, the Giants are poised to extend their winning streak to 6 games and an NFC best 7-2 record. Lets hope they don’t mail it in while playing at home against a team very much on the ropes and gasping for air/consciousness. Put them out of their misery, Giants.
Prediction:
31 – 13 Giants
Eli Manning: 23-33, 276 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Ahmad Bradshaw: 17 carries for 102 yards, 1 TD
Brandon Jacobs: 10 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
Mario Manningham: 5 catches for 90 yards, 1 TD
Steve Smith: 11 catches for 9o yards, 1 TD
…
Justin Tuck: 2 sacks
Osi Umenyiora: 2 sacks, 1 FF
Antrel Rolle: 1 INT
[visuals via NFL.com]