Despite being on a bye last week, the Dallas Cowboys were still able to make up ground in the NFC East by virtue of the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys are now tied with the Eagles at 7-3 atop the division as their first of two late season meetings looms next Thursday night.
But before the Cowboys start worrying about that game, there’s still the small matter of their trip to the Meadowlands to face the New York Giants this weekend. Let’s look at three of the most important aspects of this big game and consider their possible effects.
For more primetime previews, check out our look ahead to the Monday Night Football showdown of the Ravens vs. Saints.
[sc:Football ]Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants Sunday Night Football Preview
Is this a trap?
This has all the makings of a trap game for the Cowboys, doesn’t it? Dallas will be going on the road to a bitter division rival just days ahead of a crucial, potentially season-defining game with the Eagles. It’s easy to see how Dallas looks too far ahead, loses focus and trips up. They’ve done it a couple times already this season.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Is it a coincidence that in two home games prior to facing the Seahawks and Cardinals, the Cowboys went to overtime both times against decidedly-inferior opposition in the Texans and Redskins? Probably not.
But there are also signs that point to the opposite. For one, the Cowboys had an entire bye week to fight against any creeping complacency. Tony Romo, who was close to flawless against the Jaguars (20-of-27 for 246 yards and three touchdowns), got an extra week’s rest for his back and despite a legitimate argument against him playing, is fully focused on playing against the Giants.
When a team’s quarterback plays with a broken back to help give his team the best chance to make the playoffs, there’s no excuse to give less than 100 percent.
Run, Cowboys, Run!
The Cowboys are averaging 153 rushing yards per game, second best in the NFL, while the Giants are giving up 145 rushing yards per game, dead last in the league. That’s the obvious mismatch that’s staring everyone in the face.
The Cowboys will run and almost definitely run well. But in an effort to save up DeMarco Murray, who has not carried the ball more than 20 times in the last three games, will they run enough to grind the Giants into submission?
In their previous meeting earlier this season, Murray ran 28 times for 128 yards and the Cowboys as a team compiled 35 carries for 156 as they ran off (pun intended) with a 31-21 win.
Romo has been scary efficient when he’s been able to throw less than 30 pass attempts. In the six times that has occurred this season, he’s topped 110 in passer rating on four of those games, including that earlier meeting against the Giants. But he needs the running game to maintain that efficiency.
Which Eli Shows Up?
The Giants’ problems this season are plentiful, but up until last week, quarterback play wasn’t usually one of them. Eli Manning hadn’t been spectacular, but he wasn’t helped by his shaky offensive line that couldn’t pass or run block all that well. He was also playing catch-up with the scoreboard as his defense couldn’t hold opponents from lighting it up.
Against the 49ers, though, it all fell apart for Manning, who led his team in a five-interception farce that should’ve ended that game way earlier than it did. However, it wasn’t all too long ago that Manning had one of the best games of his season against the Cowboy defense. He completed 63 percent of his passes and threw three touchdowns.
Is it too hard to imagine Manning bouncing back to be a thorn on the side of a fierce division rival? Not really. But it’s also not hard to imagine Manning just falling off a cliff like he did last year with nothing to play for this season.
The bottom line is that with a suspect defense and an ineffective running game, any chance the Giants may have in this game will fall on the arm of Eli… for better or worse.
All set for Sunday night? Create a betting account now and make your picks today.
[sc:NFL490Banner ]
