Cowboys' Backs Against Wall in Matchup with Giants
Source: www.newswatch50.com
The NFC East title may no longer be up for grabs, but there still will be plenty at stake when the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys renew their rivalry with a Sunday night showdown from Texas Stadium in Week 15.
This high-profile game is especially significant for Dallas, which is engaged in a heated battle for one of the two Wild Card invitations for the upcoming NFC Playoffs. Although the 8-5 Cowboys currently hold a tie-breaker advantage on Atlanta for the conference's sixth seed, they face a murderous stretch of opponents over the final three weeks of the regular season.
Following Sunday's skirmish with the NFC East champion Giants, Dallas will host AFC playoff contender Baltimore (9-4) before heading to Philadelphia to take on the resurgent Eagles, who moved within a half-game of the Cowboys in the standings with a crucial 20-14 victory over the Giants at the Meadowlands last week.
There's also the matter of Dallas putting behind it a shocking 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh this past Sunday, a game in which the Cowboys squandered a 10-point lead over the final 7 1/2 minutes. The Steelers forged ahead with two touchdowns within a 24-second span, with the go-ahead score coming on cornerback Deshea Townsend's 25-yard return of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo's third interception of the day.
For the Giants, Sunday's clash is all about regaining the momentum that was lost with their recent sluggish performance against the Eagles, which came five days after the team suspended controversial wide receiver Plaxico Burress for the final four regular-season games. New York, which sewed up first place in the NFC East with Dallas' loss to Pittsburgh, had won seven straight contests prior to its setback to the Eagles.
The Giants are also trying to stave off a challenge from red-hot Carolina in the race for home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. New York (11-2) currently holds a one-game edge on the Panthers for the conference's No. 1 seed, with the two teams slated to square off at the Meadowlands on December 21.
The reigning Super Bowl winners can secure a first-round bye with a win or tie against the Cowboys, a team New York easily handled at Giants Stadium in early November.
Dallas did not have Romo available for that 35-14 loss due to a broken right pinkie finger, however, and the Cowboys mustered a paltry 183 total yards without their star triggerman under center.
New York rushed for 200 yards in that game, with top running back Brandon Jacobs gaining 117 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Jacobs is expected to be a game-time decision for Sunday's test, though, after aggravating a lingering injury to his left knee against the Eagles last Sunday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys lead the all-time regular season series with the Giants by a 54-36-2 count, but were 35-14 losers when they met at Giants Stadium in Week 9. Dallas engineered a regular season sweep of New York in 2007, including a 45-35 home win when the clubs met in Week 1 and a 31-20 decision when visiting Giants Stadium in Week 10. The G-Men, who will be going for their first sweep of the Cowboys since 2004, last won a regular season game at Texas Stadium in 2006.
The Giants were 21-17 road winners in last year's 2007 NFC Divisional Playoff, a game that ranks as the only postseason meeting between the franchises to date.
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has a 7-6 record against Dallas as a head coach, including 6-4 since arriving in New York in 2004. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is 2-3 against the Giants in his career as a head coach, with one of the defeats coming for his Bills team in 1999. Phillips is 3-2 against Coughlin head-to-head, including a victory over Coughlin's Jaguars during the 1998 campaign.
WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL
New York has routinely mauled opposing defenses with a bruising running game headlined by the 264-pound Jacobs (1002 yards, 12 TD, 5 receptions), but it's looking as if the Giants are leaning towards resting their leading rusher on Sunday to have him closer to full strength come playoff time. Backups Derrick Ward (669 rushing yards, 2 TD, 37 receptions) and Ahmad Bradshaw (319 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 2 total TD) are capable fill-ins for the NFL's top rushing offense (154.6 ypg), however. Ward put up 63 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries while splitting time with Jacobs in the Week 10 victory over the Cowboys, while Bradshaw is averaging nearly six yards per attempt in spot duty this year.
The Cowboys have tightened up their run defense substantially since their earlier meeting with New York, having yielded a scant 67 yards per game on the ground over the past four weeks. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker mustered only 25 yards on 12 rushes against a unit headed up by inside linebacker Bradie James (92 tackles, 5 sacks), who racked up 11 tackles last Sunday and has recorded double-digit stops in four of Dallas' last five games. He teams with highly- decorated veteran Zach Thomas (87 tackles, 1 sack) to give the Cowboys two accomplished stoppers in the middle of their 3-4 scheme. The defense's recent surge has vaulted Dallas to a No. 9 overall ranking against the run (94.8 ypg).
Phillips' defense will be entering Sunday's critical test with a number of health issues in the secondary. Strong safety Keith Davis (29 tackles) is out after spraining his MCL in the Pittsburgh game, while free safety Ken Hamlin (62 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack) is dealing with an ankle sprain that isn't expected to keep him out against the Giants. Dallas also lost nickel back and return specialist Adam Jones (26 tackles) for likely the season after the troublesome former Titan suffered a herniated disc last weekend. Rookie first- round pick Mike Jenkins (19 tackles, 1 INT), who returned an interception for a touchdown in the earlier meeting between these teams, is slated to play and assume Jones' duties after missing two weeks with a hamstring strain. One Cowboy who is healthy is All-Pro outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (67 tackles), who notched his NFC-best 16th sack of the season in last Sunday's setback. Dallas has registered 45 sacks as a team this year, which is tied with Pittsburgh for tops in the NFL.
With Jacobs a good bet to be inactive, the Giants may have to rely more upon the right arm of quarterback Eli Manning (2747 passing yards, 11 TD, 5 INT), who usually does his best work away from the often-treacherous conditions of the Meadowlands. The former No. 1 overall pick backed up a three-touchdown effort in a key win at Arizona in Week 12 by throwing for a season-best 305 yards to spark a 23-7 road triumph at Washington the following Sunday. Manning won't have Burress at his disposal this week and may be without wideout Domenik Hixon (29 receptions, 1 TD) as well due to ankle and foot injuries, which would rob the offense of its best deep threat. Look for New York to run a lot of underneath routes to wide receivers Amani Toomer (41 receptions, 4 TD) and Steve Smith (47 receptions, 1 TD) and tight end Kevin Boss (27 receptions, 5 TD), all three of whom caught touchdown passes from Manning in the November win over the Cowboys.
WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL
A passing attack that was dormant in the three games Romo (2769 passing yards, 22 TD, 11 INT) wasn't under center became vital again once the two-time Pro Bowler got back into the fray. Dallas is averaging over 260 yards per game through the air in four outings since Romo returned from his broken finger, while the dangerous Terrell Owens (55 receptions, 848 yards, 9 TD) has caught a touchdown pass in three straight weeks following the quarterback switch. Romo has been intercepted six times since returning, three of which came in last Sunday's loss, but the standout signal-caller has thrown three scoring passes in all five games he's played at home this year. Tight end Jason Witten (64 receptions, 3 TD), the team's leader in receptions, sprained an ankle against the Steelers but plans to be available for Sunday's all-important clash.
The status of the Cowboys' top running back is less clear heading into this weekend's matchup. Marion Barber (870 rushing yards, 47 receptions, 9 total TD) sat out the Pittsburgh game with a dislocated right toe as well as a calf problem, an injury he suffered in the Thanksgiving Day win over Seattle, and it's uncertain whether he'll be healthy enough to take on the Giants. Dallas didn't miss the powerful fourth-year pro as much as initially feared, however, thanks to an impressive display by rookie Tashard Choice (235 rushing yards, 9 receptions). The 24-year-old compiled 88 yards on 23 carries against the Steelers' top-ranked run defense while adding 78 yards on five catches, and may get the bulk of the backfield work on Sunday even if Barber's active.
New York held Barber firmly in check in the teams' most recent meeting, with the Dallas back managing a meager 54 yards on 19 carries without his team posing any kind of threat throwing the football. The Giants weren't as successful containing Brian Westbrook last week, as Philadelphia's offensive catalyst sliced his way to 203 total yards, 131 of which came on the ground, and two scores. He became the first player to eclipse the century mark this year on a Big Blue defense that is allowing only 89.6 rushing yards per game (5th overall). Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce (81 tackles, 1 sack) was kept busy in the recent loss, as the defensive captain piled up 15 tackles on the afternoon. Steady strongside starter Danny Clark (57 tackles) had one of his best games as a Giant in the November win over the Cowboys, posting a season- high nine tackles, including two for losses.
The Giants' defensive game plan will surely entail trying to make Romo uncomfortable in the pocket and pressuring the confident quarterback into mistakes, a blueprint that the team has successfully orchestrated many times during its superb season. End Justin Tuck (55 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 TD) has developed into a premier pass-rusher who often draws double-teams, which helps enable fellow linemen Mathias Kiwanuka (38 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and Fred Robbins (30 tackles, 5.5 sacks) to make plays as well. A secondary that has permitted just 193.5 passing yards per game (8th overall) is led by cornerback Corey Webster (39 tackles, 3 INT, 21 PD), who's put together a Pro Bowl- caliber year highlighted by a two-interception day against Dallas last month. On the opposite side, sophomore Aaron Ross (49 tackles, 3 INT, 8 PD) left the Philadelphia game with a sprained ankle but is expected to be fine for Sunday's battle.
FANTASY FOCUS
Romo has delivered every time he's stepped on the Texas Stadium turf this year, and not even a date against an excellent Giants defense should dissuade fantasy owners from using the Dallas quarterback in their playoff rounds. A big game for Romo usually means likewise for Owens and Witten, two every-week starters regardless of the opponent as well. Those with Barber and Choice on the rosters need to pay close attention to the days leading up to this game. Barber will probably split time with the rookie if active, making the usual top-tier back a very risky pick. If he doesn't play, then Choice should be pretty safe to use. Ward's a solid start for the Giants this week, and Jacobs' likely absence provides a boost to Manning's value. Among New York's receivers, Toomer and Boss aren't bad alternatives. The Giants' defense is usually a strong play, but keep in mind that the Cowboys are quite capable of scoring a lot of points.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
If the Giants are able to manhandle Dallas in the same fashion they did when these teams squared off six weeks ago, the NFL might as well just hand the Vince Lombardi Trophy over to the Mara and Tisch families right now. However, the thinking here is that New York will miss the presence of Jacobs, particularly in the red zone, and won't find its customary success running the ball against an overlooked Cowboys' defense that's been awfully stingy as of late. The Giants won't put forth the same dull effort as last week, but Dallas is a desperate and dangerous club that's unlikely to make the same mistake as the previous Sunday, when the Cowboys failed to play for a full 60 minutes and paid for it in the end. Look for Dallas to counter a Giants' field goal with a touchdown that winds up being the difference in what should be another entertaining affair between these two.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Cowboys 27, Giants 23
The NFC East title may no longer be up for grabs, but there still will be plenty at stake when the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys renew their rivalry with a Sunday night showdown from Texas Stadium in Week 15.
This high-profile game is especially significant for Dallas, which is engaged in a heated battle for one of the two Wild Card invitations for the upcoming NFC Playoffs. Although the 8-5 Cowboys currently hold a tie-breaker advantage on Atlanta for the conference's sixth seed, they face a murderous stretch of opponents over the final three weeks of the regular season.
Following Sunday's skirmish with the NFC East champion Giants, Dallas will host AFC playoff contender Baltimore (9-4) before heading to Philadelphia to take on the resurgent Eagles, who moved within a half-game of the Cowboys in the standings with a crucial 20-14 victory over the Giants at the Meadowlands last week.
There's also the matter of Dallas putting behind it a shocking 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh this past Sunday, a game in which the Cowboys squandered a 10-point lead over the final 7 1/2 minutes. The Steelers forged ahead with two touchdowns within a 24-second span, with the go-ahead score coming on cornerback Deshea Townsend's 25-yard return of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo's third interception of the day.
For the Giants, Sunday's clash is all about regaining the momentum that was lost with their recent sluggish performance against the Eagles, which came five days after the team suspended controversial wide receiver Plaxico Burress for the final four regular-season games. New York, which sewed up first place in the NFC East with Dallas' loss to Pittsburgh, had won seven straight contests prior to its setback to the Eagles.
The Giants are also trying to stave off a challenge from red-hot Carolina in the race for home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. New York (11-2) currently holds a one-game edge on the Panthers for the conference's No. 1 seed, with the two teams slated to square off at the Meadowlands on December 21.
The reigning Super Bowl winners can secure a first-round bye with a win or tie against the Cowboys, a team New York easily handled at Giants Stadium in early November.
Dallas did not have Romo available for that 35-14 loss due to a broken right pinkie finger, however, and the Cowboys mustered a paltry 183 total yards without their star triggerman under center.
New York rushed for 200 yards in that game, with top running back Brandon Jacobs gaining 117 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Jacobs is expected to be a game-time decision for Sunday's test, though, after aggravating a lingering injury to his left knee against the Eagles last Sunday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cowboys lead the all-time regular season series with the Giants by a 54-36-2 count, but were 35-14 losers when they met at Giants Stadium in Week 9. Dallas engineered a regular season sweep of New York in 2007, including a 45-35 home win when the clubs met in Week 1 and a 31-20 decision when visiting Giants Stadium in Week 10. The G-Men, who will be going for their first sweep of the Cowboys since 2004, last won a regular season game at Texas Stadium in 2006.
The Giants were 21-17 road winners in last year's 2007 NFC Divisional Playoff, a game that ranks as the only postseason meeting between the franchises to date.
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has a 7-6 record against Dallas as a head coach, including 6-4 since arriving in New York in 2004. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips is 2-3 against the Giants in his career as a head coach, with one of the defeats coming for his Bills team in 1999. Phillips is 3-2 against Coughlin head-to-head, including a victory over Coughlin's Jaguars during the 1998 campaign.
WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL
New York has routinely mauled opposing defenses with a bruising running game headlined by the 264-pound Jacobs (1002 yards, 12 TD, 5 receptions), but it's looking as if the Giants are leaning towards resting their leading rusher on Sunday to have him closer to full strength come playoff time. Backups Derrick Ward (669 rushing yards, 2 TD, 37 receptions) and Ahmad Bradshaw (319 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 2 total TD) are capable fill-ins for the NFL's top rushing offense (154.6 ypg), however. Ward put up 63 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries while splitting time with Jacobs in the Week 10 victory over the Cowboys, while Bradshaw is averaging nearly six yards per attempt in spot duty this year.
The Cowboys have tightened up their run defense substantially since their earlier meeting with New York, having yielded a scant 67 yards per game on the ground over the past four weeks. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker mustered only 25 yards on 12 rushes against a unit headed up by inside linebacker Bradie James (92 tackles, 5 sacks), who racked up 11 tackles last Sunday and has recorded double-digit stops in four of Dallas' last five games. He teams with highly- decorated veteran Zach Thomas (87 tackles, 1 sack) to give the Cowboys two accomplished stoppers in the middle of their 3-4 scheme. The defense's recent surge has vaulted Dallas to a No. 9 overall ranking against the run (94.8 ypg).
Phillips' defense will be entering Sunday's critical test with a number of health issues in the secondary. Strong safety Keith Davis (29 tackles) is out after spraining his MCL in the Pittsburgh game, while free safety Ken Hamlin (62 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack) is dealing with an ankle sprain that isn't expected to keep him out against the Giants. Dallas also lost nickel back and return specialist Adam Jones (26 tackles) for likely the season after the troublesome former Titan suffered a herniated disc last weekend. Rookie first- round pick Mike Jenkins (19 tackles, 1 INT), who returned an interception for a touchdown in the earlier meeting between these teams, is slated to play and assume Jones' duties after missing two weeks with a hamstring strain. One Cowboy who is healthy is All-Pro outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (67 tackles), who notched his NFC-best 16th sack of the season in last Sunday's setback. Dallas has registered 45 sacks as a team this year, which is tied with Pittsburgh for tops in the NFL.
With Jacobs a good bet to be inactive, the Giants may have to rely more upon the right arm of quarterback Eli Manning (2747 passing yards, 11 TD, 5 INT), who usually does his best work away from the often-treacherous conditions of the Meadowlands. The former No. 1 overall pick backed up a three-touchdown effort in a key win at Arizona in Week 12 by throwing for a season-best 305 yards to spark a 23-7 road triumph at Washington the following Sunday. Manning won't have Burress at his disposal this week and may be without wideout Domenik Hixon (29 receptions, 1 TD) as well due to ankle and foot injuries, which would rob the offense of its best deep threat. Look for New York to run a lot of underneath routes to wide receivers Amani Toomer (41 receptions, 4 TD) and Steve Smith (47 receptions, 1 TD) and tight end Kevin Boss (27 receptions, 5 TD), all three of whom caught touchdown passes from Manning in the November win over the Cowboys.
WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL
A passing attack that was dormant in the three games Romo (2769 passing yards, 22 TD, 11 INT) wasn't under center became vital again once the two-time Pro Bowler got back into the fray. Dallas is averaging over 260 yards per game through the air in four outings since Romo returned from his broken finger, while the dangerous Terrell Owens (55 receptions, 848 yards, 9 TD) has caught a touchdown pass in three straight weeks following the quarterback switch. Romo has been intercepted six times since returning, three of which came in last Sunday's loss, but the standout signal-caller has thrown three scoring passes in all five games he's played at home this year. Tight end Jason Witten (64 receptions, 3 TD), the team's leader in receptions, sprained an ankle against the Steelers but plans to be available for Sunday's all-important clash.
The status of the Cowboys' top running back is less clear heading into this weekend's matchup. Marion Barber (870 rushing yards, 47 receptions, 9 total TD) sat out the Pittsburgh game with a dislocated right toe as well as a calf problem, an injury he suffered in the Thanksgiving Day win over Seattle, and it's uncertain whether he'll be healthy enough to take on the Giants. Dallas didn't miss the powerful fourth-year pro as much as initially feared, however, thanks to an impressive display by rookie Tashard Choice (235 rushing yards, 9 receptions). The 24-year-old compiled 88 yards on 23 carries against the Steelers' top-ranked run defense while adding 78 yards on five catches, and may get the bulk of the backfield work on Sunday even if Barber's active.
New York held Barber firmly in check in the teams' most recent meeting, with the Dallas back managing a meager 54 yards on 19 carries without his team posing any kind of threat throwing the football. The Giants weren't as successful containing Brian Westbrook last week, as Philadelphia's offensive catalyst sliced his way to 203 total yards, 131 of which came on the ground, and two scores. He became the first player to eclipse the century mark this year on a Big Blue defense that is allowing only 89.6 rushing yards per game (5th overall). Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce (81 tackles, 1 sack) was kept busy in the recent loss, as the defensive captain piled up 15 tackles on the afternoon. Steady strongside starter Danny Clark (57 tackles) had one of his best games as a Giant in the November win over the Cowboys, posting a season- high nine tackles, including two for losses.
The Giants' defensive game plan will surely entail trying to make Romo uncomfortable in the pocket and pressuring the confident quarterback into mistakes, a blueprint that the team has successfully orchestrated many times during its superb season. End Justin Tuck (55 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 TD) has developed into a premier pass-rusher who often draws double-teams, which helps enable fellow linemen Mathias Kiwanuka (38 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and Fred Robbins (30 tackles, 5.5 sacks) to make plays as well. A secondary that has permitted just 193.5 passing yards per game (8th overall) is led by cornerback Corey Webster (39 tackles, 3 INT, 21 PD), who's put together a Pro Bowl- caliber year highlighted by a two-interception day against Dallas last month. On the opposite side, sophomore Aaron Ross (49 tackles, 3 INT, 8 PD) left the Philadelphia game with a sprained ankle but is expected to be fine for Sunday's battle.
FANTASY FOCUS
Romo has delivered every time he's stepped on the Texas Stadium turf this year, and not even a date against an excellent Giants defense should dissuade fantasy owners from using the Dallas quarterback in their playoff rounds. A big game for Romo usually means likewise for Owens and Witten, two every-week starters regardless of the opponent as well. Those with Barber and Choice on the rosters need to pay close attention to the days leading up to this game. Barber will probably split time with the rookie if active, making the usual top-tier back a very risky pick. If he doesn't play, then Choice should be pretty safe to use. Ward's a solid start for the Giants this week, and Jacobs' likely absence provides a boost to Manning's value. Among New York's receivers, Toomer and Boss aren't bad alternatives. The Giants' defense is usually a strong play, but keep in mind that the Cowboys are quite capable of scoring a lot of points.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
If the Giants are able to manhandle Dallas in the same fashion they did when these teams squared off six weeks ago, the NFL might as well just hand the Vince Lombardi Trophy over to the Mara and Tisch families right now. However, the thinking here is that New York will miss the presence of Jacobs, particularly in the red zone, and won't find its customary success running the ball against an overlooked Cowboys' defense that's been awfully stingy as of late. The Giants won't put forth the same dull effort as last week, but Dallas is a desperate and dangerous club that's unlikely to make the same mistake as the previous Sunday, when the Cowboys failed to play for a full 60 minutes and paid for it in the end. Look for Dallas to counter a Giants' field goal with a touchdown that winds up being the difference in what should be another entertaining affair between these two.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Cowboys 27, Giants 23
posted by The Gryphon at 5:11 PM
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