This week the Giants travel to Texas to take on Jerry Jones’s Dallas Cowboys.  The Giants are sporting a four game losing streak, although the last game against the Packers is being viewed optimistically. The Giants showed alot of fight in the loss, and came within a minute of forcing an overtime against the undefeated Pack. The Cowboys lost a heartbreaker to an inferior Cardinals team that could have been avoided. Basically, the Giants have to win three out of their next four to have a shot at the playoffs. Four wins would guarantee them the playoff slot, but that might be too much to ask for. The G-Men are choosing to look at the loss to GB as a flashback to their loss to the Patriots in 2007. They are hoping that the loss showed that they can come up big when things are on the line, and are viewing the next four games as playoff games.

Offensively, Eli manning is having another great season, and has developed a rhythym with his receivers. He also plays well against Dallas, with 26 career TD’s against the ‘Boys, the most of any opponent. In three of the last 4 games against them, he has thrown for over 300 yards and 2 TD’s, and has had four 300 yard games against Dallas, with three of those games coming in Texas. The Giants are 2-0 in the Jerry Dome, and Manning is 5-2 when playing in Dallas. The return of Ahmad Bradshaw seemed to rejuvenate the Giants’ rushing game to a serviceable level. The running attack doesn’t need to be great, just good enough to make the opponents think twice before committing to an all out rush against the Giants’ overmatched O-Line. Stacy Andrews is out with blood clots, Will Beatty has a detached retina, David Baas is plagued with headaches, everyone knows the drill. Mitch Petrus played well in the loss, and David Diehl slid outside to his natural left tackle slot. This matches him up against the first of Big D’s defenders, Demarcus (big D) Ware. In previous matchups Ware has handled Diehl effectively, so Bradshaw might be called on to help out in protection. The receiving corps looks relatively healthy, so this should be a strength for the G-Men. (more…)

The absence of fullback Tony Fiammetta has had a lot to do with it. Fiammetta has been out the past three weeks due to illness. In the last three weeks, Dallas has only averaged 85 total rushing yards. With Fiammetta in the lineup, the Boys averaged 137 rushing yards per game. He has returned to practice this week and has been cleared to play on Sunday night.

2. Jason Garrett has come under scrutiny this week especially.  What is the overall feeling about Jason?

I think Cowboy Nation is split on Garrett. Some of them want him fired, while others understand he’s a first time NFL head coach who is bound to make some rookie mistakes. Unfortunately for Garrett, Owner and GM Jerry Jones doesn’t have too much patience for mistakes. But if Garrett can get the Cowboys deep into the playoffs, all will be forgiven.

3. The Giants have played very well in your new stadium. Overall has the new building been much of an advantage?

Not really. Other than a big “wow” factor, there really is no home field advantage in Big “D”. One of the major factors working against the Cowboys at home is the lack of crowd noise. I can’t tell you how many  times I can hear Tony Romo clearly while he’s on the line of scrimmage. It’s kind of amazing that the stadium is that quiet and it’s probably acoustically designed to be so. Great for the fans, but terrible for home field advantage. But I think in time it will become more Cowboy friendly.

4. Tony Romo is a very talented athlete.  Do Cowboys fans feel he is the one to get them to a Super Bowl, or do you think he lacks some quality?

I think you would have gotten a different answer a few weeks ago. But for now it seems that Cowboy fans do believe Tony Romo can take us to the promised land. The infusion of talent from DeMarco Murray, Laurent Robinson, and Dan Bailey have gone a long way in aiding the quarterback’s reputation among fans. As always, Romo is just one bad game away from being crucified. And that will continue until he wins a Superbowl in Dallas.

5. Your prediction of the game and the division?

I think the entire game is predicated on the Dallas running game. And I think Tom Coughlin knows this and will put eight men in the box to stop it. With Miles Austin and Laurent Robinson questionable for the game, Dallas’ passing game will be shaky. I don’t like what I saw last week from the Cowboys against the Cardinals. I expect a low scoring game with the Giants winning. As for the division title, I think it will ultimately go to the victor of this game.