The New York Giants are in the midst of a five-game losing streak which has left them scratching their heads in search of that elusive win. They’ll need to find some answers quick as they welcome the class of NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys, to MetLife Stadium. Don’t be too quick to write off the Giants in their own house, though. The Giants have as good a chance as any to send the Cowboys back home with a loss. Read on for New York’s keys to victory for their Week 12 showdown with the Cowboys.
Click here for the complete preview of this blockbuster Sunday Night Football game. Meanwhile, you can also check out more of the storylines heading into Sunday night.
[sc:Football ]Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants Sunday Night Football Preview
Eli the Conqueror
Despite a 10-10 record in head-to-head career matchups, Eli Manning has enjoyed the most success against the Dallas Cowboys. He has thrown more touchdowns (41) against Dallas than any other team in his career. Three of those touchdowns came in the first meeting between the two teams this season in Week 7, a game in which Manning finished with 248 yards and no interceptions.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Like last time, Manning still won’t have receiver Victor Cruz due to an injury. Instead, rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be doing the bulk of the work in the receiving corps. Although Beckham hasn’t caught a touchdown pass in his last three games, he did catch two against the Cowboys on October 19. Meanwhile, Rueben Randle should also give Manning another weapon for this game after putting up 112 yards receiving against San Francisco last week.
Sacks in the Stadium
If there’s a perfect time for the Giants’ pass rush to have a big game, it would be against the Cowboys. New York managed to leave the first game against Dallas with two sacks on Tony Romo. Fast forward to today and Romo has two fractures on his back that could cause the Cowboys problems should he make an early exit. If the Giants get at least one big hit on the Dallas quarterback, then it may signal the time for Manning to take over the game.
Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul recorded both of the sacks on Romo, though he’s only a third of the Dallas quarterback’s worries. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (3.5 sacks) and defensive end Robert Ayers (five sacks) are also devastating pass rushers capable of ending Romo’s night (and/or season) with one big hit.
The McAdoo Effect
Including the Giants’ 31-21 Week 7 loss, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is 3-1 in his last four matchups against the Cowboys. The three wins came in McAdoo’s stint as a member of the Green Bay Packers’ coaching staff (once as a quarterback coach in 2013, and twice as a tight end coach from 2009-2010) with an average 16.3-point margin of victory.
With that in mind, look for more production from tight end Larry Donnell. The second-year player caught all seven passes coming his way for 90 yards in the first meeting against Dallas. Donnell has also proven to be a legitimate scoring threat this season catching three touchdown passes in Week 4 against the Redskins, and recently scored on a 19-yarder from Manning against the 49ers last week.
Think the Giants can upset the Cowboys? Create a betting account now and grab New York at +155 for some profit.
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