Giants get ready for litmus test vs. Cowboys
BY RALPH VACCHIANO
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Tuesday, November 6th 2007, 4:00 AM
If the Giants win, they will leap into a first-place tie with Dallas.
The record says the Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFC East, and maybe in the entire NFC. The way they pummeled the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night suggests that's true, too.
But the Giants don't believe it ... at least not yet.
"We'll see," said guard Chris Snee.
Everyone will see for sure in five days when the Giants (6-2) take on the Cowboys (7-1) in a division and conference showdown at Giants Stadium. For the Cowboys, it's a chance to all but lock up the division and stake their claim as a favorite to reach the NFC Championship Game.
For the Giants - who returned to work yesterday after a bye week and a five-day vacation - it's not only a chance to stay in the division and conference races, it's also a chance to prove they belong.
"We all know that we had a good run of six games, but this is the real test for us," said receiver Amani Toomer. "They're one of the best teams in the division and in the league. If we want to be considered in that upper echelon in the league, this is the team we have to beat to show that."
Despite a six-game winning streak, the Giants know they haven't really shown anything yet. The truth is, they have had a remarkably easy schedule, especially over the last five games, which were against teams with a combined record of 8-33.
The Cowboys haven't had a very difficult schedule either, though they did beat the Giants, 45-35, on opening night. They also have the NFL's No. 2 offense and the eighth-ranked defense. They generally are viewed as a legitimate contender, something they proved Sunday night with a dominating 38-17 win over the Eagles.
On that national stage, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was in Pro Bowl form, completing 20 of 25 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Terrell Owens chipped in with 10 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown. It was similar to what Romo (15-for-24, 345 yards, four touchdowns) and tight end Jason Witten (six catches, 116 yards, one touchdown) did to the Giants two months ago, when they were nearly matched by Eli Manning (28-for-41, 312 yards, four touchdowns) and Plaxico Burress (8-144-3).
The Giants have been waiting for the rematch ever since.
"After the first game of the year we had a bad taste in our mouth," Toomer said. "We felt like we let one get away from us. I think our offense played pretty well and our defense was adjusting. Now that everything is coming together, we're in much better shape to compete and beat the Cowboys."
"We had a good game plan for them last time," Manning added. "We did some good stuff. So we just have to come out this week and do the same things."
If they do, and they win, it'll be a huge step for the Giants, who historically have had trouble after the bye week (4-14) and have struggled mightily in the second half of the season the last three years (8-16). And while a win would only give them a tie for the lead in the NFC East, it would let everyone else know they're as dangerous as the Cowboys.
Of course, that's something the Giants already believe.
"They definitely had a good run, I'm not taking anything away from them," Toomer said. "We played them, so we know exactly what they've got. They know exactly what we've got. We feel like we match up well against them. We're definitely looking forward to proving (that to) a lot of people - making a statement with this game."
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Tuesday, November 6th 2007, 4:00 AM
If the Giants win, they will leap into a first-place tie with Dallas.
The record says the Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFC East, and maybe in the entire NFC. The way they pummeled the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night suggests that's true, too.
But the Giants don't believe it ... at least not yet.
"We'll see," said guard Chris Snee.
Everyone will see for sure in five days when the Giants (6-2) take on the Cowboys (7-1) in a division and conference showdown at Giants Stadium. For the Cowboys, it's a chance to all but lock up the division and stake their claim as a favorite to reach the NFC Championship Game.
For the Giants - who returned to work yesterday after a bye week and a five-day vacation - it's not only a chance to stay in the division and conference races, it's also a chance to prove they belong.
"We all know that we had a good run of six games, but this is the real test for us," said receiver Amani Toomer. "They're one of the best teams in the division and in the league. If we want to be considered in that upper echelon in the league, this is the team we have to beat to show that."
Despite a six-game winning streak, the Giants know they haven't really shown anything yet. The truth is, they have had a remarkably easy schedule, especially over the last five games, which were against teams with a combined record of 8-33.
The Cowboys haven't had a very difficult schedule either, though they did beat the Giants, 45-35, on opening night. They also have the NFL's No. 2 offense and the eighth-ranked defense. They generally are viewed as a legitimate contender, something they proved Sunday night with a dominating 38-17 win over the Eagles.
On that national stage, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was in Pro Bowl form, completing 20 of 25 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Terrell Owens chipped in with 10 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown. It was similar to what Romo (15-for-24, 345 yards, four touchdowns) and tight end Jason Witten (six catches, 116 yards, one touchdown) did to the Giants two months ago, when they were nearly matched by Eli Manning (28-for-41, 312 yards, four touchdowns) and Plaxico Burress (8-144-3).
The Giants have been waiting for the rematch ever since.
"After the first game of the year we had a bad taste in our mouth," Toomer said. "We felt like we let one get away from us. I think our offense played pretty well and our defense was adjusting. Now that everything is coming together, we're in much better shape to compete and beat the Cowboys."
"We had a good game plan for them last time," Manning added. "We did some good stuff. So we just have to come out this week and do the same things."
If they do, and they win, it'll be a huge step for the Giants, who historically have had trouble after the bye week (4-14) and have struggled mightily in the second half of the season the last three years (8-16). And while a win would only give them a tie for the lead in the NFC East, it would let everyone else know they're as dangerous as the Cowboys.
Of course, that's something the Giants already believe.
"They definitely had a good run, I'm not taking anything away from them," Toomer said. "We played them, so we know exactly what they've got. They know exactly what we've got. We feel like we match up well against them. We're definitely looking forward to proving (that to) a lot of people - making a statement with this game."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:50 AM
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