Cowboys vs. Giants: Winner Gets Packers In Next Sunday's NFC Title Game
Zach Buchanan - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
January 12, 2008 6:31 PM
GAME SET
WHAT: New York Giants (11-6) at Dallas Cowboys (13-3)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:30 pm (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver and Chris Myers)
BIG ISSUE: Winning their first playoff game since 1996 will be hard enough for the Cowboys, but to do so they must do something they've never done: Beat a team three times in one season. Granted, they've only had one opportunity to do that, losing to the Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card round of the 1998 playoffs after sweeping them in the regular season, but that doesn't make the task any less daunting. The Cowboys will have to walk the fine line of doing what they've done to beat the Giants in the past and attacking them with something New York hasn't seen yet in order to advance to the NFC Championship against the Packers, who pummeled Seattle at snowy Lambeau Field on Saturday, 42-20. Based on the arctic conditions in Green Bay, the Cowboys can take comfort in knowing the title game would take place in the more pleasant confines of Texas Stadium if they get past the Giants.
The Giants are playing solid football as of late. Even before beating the Buccaneers, 24-14, in the first round of the playoffs, the Giants treated a 38-35 loss to the undefeated Patriots as a sort of moral victory, and have been playing with confidence ever since. They'll need that confidence to beat the team that has had their number since their second meeting last season. The Giants winning at Tampa Bay this past Sunday upped their recent road playoff record to just 2-4.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys better hope starting wide receiver Terrell Owens can be effective Sunday, because without him Dallas' passing game suffers. In the four quarters the Cowboys' starting offense has played since Owens suffered a high ankle sprain against the Panthers in Week 16, starting quarterback Tony Romo has only gone 22-for-38 for 231 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. During that same span, the Cowboys' leading receiver has been Sam Hurd, who caught four passes for 86 yards.
The Giants are a run-first team, and the numbers confirm it. With only one exception, every time the Giants have mustered up more than 115 yards rushing, starting quarterback Eli Manning has thrown for less than 200 yards, seven instances in total.
ONE-ON-ONE: The Giants are hobbled at the center position, with starting center Shaun O'Hara having only limited participation in practice all week until Friday with a knee injury. O'Hara, who is nonetheless listed as probable, with face Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who should be well-rested and recuperated from the sprained knee he suffered against the Panthers three weeks ago. Ratliff is known for his speed and quickness, and with O'Hara's mobility at less than 100 percent, Ratliff will have to use those assets in order to get to Manning and stuff any inside runs by Giants running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.
The supposed knock on Romo is his loss of composure after getting knocked down a lot. To prevent that from happening, Cowboys Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams will have to continue his domination of Giants defensive end and pass-rusher extraordinaire Osi Umenyiora. In his only full game against Dallas this year (he left early in the season opener with an injury), Umenyiora was limited to only three tackles and no sacks, and unusual stat line for a player who finished the season with 13 sacks total.
SUPPORTING ROLE: Friday, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Owens likely will play, but regardless if he does or not, wide receiver Terry Glenn will have to be effective. Glenn, who missed the first 15 games of the season recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, did get some limited playing time in the season finale against the Redskins but was held without a catch. On Sunday, Glenn could take a larger role, and the Cowboys will need his speed to pose a deep threat and roll coverage away from Owens and tight end Jason Witten.
Giants starting tight end Jeremy Shockey wasn't having a banner season before he broke his leg in Week 15, but his backup, Kevin Boss, has begun to make a name for himself in his absence. Boss, a 6-6, 253-pound rookie out of Western Oregon, had a touchdown against the Patriots in the season finale and will be a key target for Manning in the middle of the field. He'll line up against Cowboys Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams, who has the reputation for being suspect in coverage.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys, finally with a healthy offensive line, should show more commitment to the run against the Giants. With two receivers, Owens and Glenn, less than fully healthy and others unproven in man coverage, the Cowboys will likely use the combo rushing attack of Pro Bowler Marion Barber and Julius Jones to free up the passing game. If Dallas can force the Giants to play the run first and move a safety into the box, there will be more open routes for receivers.
Despite Manning's recent success, the Giants aren't going to just hand him the football and say throw. They'll run first, and much like the Cowboys will, try to open up the passing attack that way. With three Pro Bowlers in the Cowboys secondary, the Giants aren't likely to attempt many deep, risky passes, but rather check down to backs and tight ends if the longer routes aren't open.
HEALTH WATCH:
Giants
Three players are listed as probable for the Giants: Starting center Shaun O'Hara (knee), starting rookie tight end Kevin Boss (illness), and starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie (ankle). Starting wide receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle) had limited participation all week and is listed as questionable, but this has been a common situation with Burress, who has managed to play in every game this season despite the injury. Starting corner Sam Madison (stomach) did not practice Friday and is doubtful to play Sunday. Backup corner Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) also did not practice and is listed as out.
Cowboys
There is only one real question mark for the Cowboys and it's a big one: Starting wide receiver Terrell Owens (ankle) is listed as questionable, although Phillips thinks he'll probably play in some capacity despite missing Wednesday's practice and practicing only on a limited basis Thursday and Friday. Starting center Andre Gurode (knee), who practiced fully Friday, is listed as probable and expected to start. Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) is also listed as probable, and although he probably won't start, could have a prominent role in the offense on Sunday.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
January 12, 2008 6:31 PM
GAME SET
WHAT: New York Giants (11-6) at Dallas Cowboys (13-3)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:30 pm (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver and Chris Myers)
BIG ISSUE: Winning their first playoff game since 1996 will be hard enough for the Cowboys, but to do so they must do something they've never done: Beat a team three times in one season. Granted, they've only had one opportunity to do that, losing to the Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card round of the 1998 playoffs after sweeping them in the regular season, but that doesn't make the task any less daunting. The Cowboys will have to walk the fine line of doing what they've done to beat the Giants in the past and attacking them with something New York hasn't seen yet in order to advance to the NFC Championship against the Packers, who pummeled Seattle at snowy Lambeau Field on Saturday, 42-20. Based on the arctic conditions in Green Bay, the Cowboys can take comfort in knowing the title game would take place in the more pleasant confines of Texas Stadium if they get past the Giants.
The Giants are playing solid football as of late. Even before beating the Buccaneers, 24-14, in the first round of the playoffs, the Giants treated a 38-35 loss to the undefeated Patriots as a sort of moral victory, and have been playing with confidence ever since. They'll need that confidence to beat the team that has had their number since their second meeting last season. The Giants winning at Tampa Bay this past Sunday upped their recent road playoff record to just 2-4.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys better hope starting wide receiver Terrell Owens can be effective Sunday, because without him Dallas' passing game suffers. In the four quarters the Cowboys' starting offense has played since Owens suffered a high ankle sprain against the Panthers in Week 16, starting quarterback Tony Romo has only gone 22-for-38 for 231 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. During that same span, the Cowboys' leading receiver has been Sam Hurd, who caught four passes for 86 yards.
The Giants are a run-first team, and the numbers confirm it. With only one exception, every time the Giants have mustered up more than 115 yards rushing, starting quarterback Eli Manning has thrown for less than 200 yards, seven instances in total.
ONE-ON-ONE: The Giants are hobbled at the center position, with starting center Shaun O'Hara having only limited participation in practice all week until Friday with a knee injury. O'Hara, who is nonetheless listed as probable, with face Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who should be well-rested and recuperated from the sprained knee he suffered against the Panthers three weeks ago. Ratliff is known for his speed and quickness, and with O'Hara's mobility at less than 100 percent, Ratliff will have to use those assets in order to get to Manning and stuff any inside runs by Giants running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.
The supposed knock on Romo is his loss of composure after getting knocked down a lot. To prevent that from happening, Cowboys Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams will have to continue his domination of Giants defensive end and pass-rusher extraordinaire Osi Umenyiora. In his only full game against Dallas this year (he left early in the season opener with an injury), Umenyiora was limited to only three tackles and no sacks, and unusual stat line for a player who finished the season with 13 sacks total.
SUPPORTING ROLE: Friday, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Owens likely will play, but regardless if he does or not, wide receiver Terry Glenn will have to be effective. Glenn, who missed the first 15 games of the season recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, did get some limited playing time in the season finale against the Redskins but was held without a catch. On Sunday, Glenn could take a larger role, and the Cowboys will need his speed to pose a deep threat and roll coverage away from Owens and tight end Jason Witten.
Giants starting tight end Jeremy Shockey wasn't having a banner season before he broke his leg in Week 15, but his backup, Kevin Boss, has begun to make a name for himself in his absence. Boss, a 6-6, 253-pound rookie out of Western Oregon, had a touchdown against the Patriots in the season finale and will be a key target for Manning in the middle of the field. He'll line up against Cowboys Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams, who has the reputation for being suspect in coverage.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys, finally with a healthy offensive line, should show more commitment to the run against the Giants. With two receivers, Owens and Glenn, less than fully healthy and others unproven in man coverage, the Cowboys will likely use the combo rushing attack of Pro Bowler Marion Barber and Julius Jones to free up the passing game. If Dallas can force the Giants to play the run first and move a safety into the box, there will be more open routes for receivers.
Despite Manning's recent success, the Giants aren't going to just hand him the football and say throw. They'll run first, and much like the Cowboys will, try to open up the passing attack that way. With three Pro Bowlers in the Cowboys secondary, the Giants aren't likely to attempt many deep, risky passes, but rather check down to backs and tight ends if the longer routes aren't open.
HEALTH WATCH:
Giants
Three players are listed as probable for the Giants: Starting center Shaun O'Hara (knee), starting rookie tight end Kevin Boss (illness), and starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie (ankle). Starting wide receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle) had limited participation all week and is listed as questionable, but this has been a common situation with Burress, who has managed to play in every game this season despite the injury. Starting corner Sam Madison (stomach) did not practice Friday and is doubtful to play Sunday. Backup corner Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) also did not practice and is listed as out.
Cowboys
There is only one real question mark for the Cowboys and it's a big one: Starting wide receiver Terrell Owens (ankle) is listed as questionable, although Phillips thinks he'll probably play in some capacity despite missing Wednesday's practice and practicing only on a limited basis Thursday and Friday. Starting center Andre Gurode (knee), who practiced fully Friday, is listed as probable and expected to start. Wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) is also listed as probable, and although he probably won't start, could have a prominent role in the offense on Sunday.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:27 AM
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