Loading ...The New York Giants are 4-2 and winners of three straight games after a slow start to the season. This Monday night the Giants travel to Dallas to take on their hated rivals, the Dallas Cowboys in a divisional showdown on national television. Dallas was picked by nearly all media outlets to not only win the NFC East, but to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, which would have been a home game for them this season. However, Dallas has struggled mightily out of the gates and currently find themselves with a 1-4 mark, stuck in the basement of the NFC East. Can the Giants continue their winning streak by hammering another nail into the coffin of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2010 season? Here are the key to victory:
Rush the Passer - One of the weak spots on the Cowboys’ roster in 2010 has been their offensive line, which has been unable to give quarterback Tony Romo adequate time to throw. Romo has only been sacked seven times, but he has been hit often and rushed into bad decisions regularly. This is good news for the Giants, because they are second in the NFL with 21 sacks and excel at getting after the opponent’s quarterback. I expect another big game from Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, whose 8.0 sacks rank second in the NFL and seven forced fumbles rank first overall by a wide margin. Romo is tied for 3rd in the league with seven interceptions thrown, and he is playing with an injured thumb on his throwing hand, so he will make poor decisions when the pressure is on.
Run the Football - Giants tailback Ahmad Bradshaw is the 3rd leading rusher in the NFL, having gained 582 yards this season, and the Giants rush offense ranks 5th best in the NFL as a unit. Dallas has a solid rush defense, which has just allowed 100.8 yards per game so far in 2010, 10th best in the league in that category. If the Giants can establish the run, and the offensive line can open up lanes for Bradshaw, the Giants will control the clock and win this game. A combination of Bradshaw and the powerful Brandon Jacobs should get the job done in Dallas on Monday night, behind another strong performance by the Giants offensive line.
Block DeMarcus Ware - Dallas has one of the best pass rushers in the NFL in rush linebacker DeMarcus Ware, but as a unit the Cowboys only have 12 sacks and 2 interceptions. The Giants will use reserve lineman Shawn Andrews as a tight end to help the offensive line handle Ware, who has 7.0 of Dallas’ 12.0 team sacks. If the Giants are able to keep Ware from pressuring quarterback Eli Manning, Dallas has no other pass rushing threats, and Manning should have all day to pick apart the weak Dallas secondary.
Throw the Football - The Cowboys have the fourth ranked pass defense in the NFL, allowing just 181 yards per game, a stat that surprised me. However, Dallas does average 7.2 yards per attempt and has only two interceptions this season, so their lack of playmakers can be exposed. Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks was quiet last week, catching just three passes for eight yards, and I expect much more out of him on Monday night. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham should help as well, and the Giants should gain some easy yardage through the air once early on against a secondary that has struggled early in games this season.
Keep Stopping the Run - The Giants have one of the top defenses in the league against the run, as opponents are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry against Big Blue, the third lowest average in the NFL. Dallas, meanwhile has the 27th ranked rush offense in the NFL, having gained just 475 yards on the ground in 2010. This was suppsed to be tailback Felix Jones’ breakout year for Dallas, but he cannot seem to get anything going, and it is clear power back Marion Barber has lost a step. The Giants need to keep doing what they have been doing against the run, so Barry Cofield, Jonathan Goff and Chris Canty need to shut down the Dallas ground game, forcing Dallas to throw the ball under pressure from the Giants outstanding pass rush.
Dallas Beats Themselves - When I looked at the Cowboys’ season statistics, they were much more impressive than I ever imagined a 1-4 team would have. The only stat where Dallas has struggled as a team has been rushing yards, where they average just 95.0 per game, which is a significant statistic, because they have been unable to control the clock. They are 4th in the league in passing yards, 4th in passing yards allowed and 10th in opponent’s rushing yards, all fairly impressive statistics that make me think they are an efficient team. The main problem has been the Cowboys has been penalties, as they have made the third most in the league with 49, and many have been costly and at the wrong time such as late hits and excessive celebration. Dallas also has been killed by bad turnovers at the wrong times, like Romo being picked off twice on what could have been scoring drives by Minnesota linebacker E.J. Henderson last weekend, leading to 10 Vikings points. Dallas fans have felt the way Giants fans felt after the week three home loss to the Titans all week long. We were the better team, we out gained them and outplayed them in all facets of the game, but we still lost because we are undisciplined. I usually do not condone this, but talking some trash and getting physical with the Cowboys on Monday night could cause a desperate team to make some mistakes, which would be a major advantage for the Giants.
Prediction - I think this will be a close one, as Dallas is very desperate at this point, and should play well at home on Monday night. I expect the Giants to play physical football and run the ball offensively, and rush Tony Romo into some mistakes with pressure defensively. Overall, I think this game will come down to a final drive where Dallas is within striking distance, but a mistake or turnover forced by the Giants pass rush wins them this game. Giants 24 Dallas 20 in a nail biter.
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Rich:
Didn’t you mean “UUT”??
I laugh at the whole Eli elite QB debate..Who gives a Fark what other people around the NFL think of him. I couldn’t be happier having him lead this team and wouldn’t trade him for anyone right now. He has the perfect mentality for playing in New York and is improving every year. Is he the best QB in the NFL? No way, but the guys that are better (Brees, Peyton, Brady) are all older and have all reached their ceilings. The other QB’s on his level are all flawed like Rivers and Rapelisberger or unproven in big games like Rodgers, Tony Chokmo and Schaub. Eli is one of what 5 active QB’s that have won the SB? Doesnt that alone put him in an elite club? If not, ask Rivers, Romo, Rodgers, Flacco, Orton and McNabb where their SB rings and SB MVP awards are. I know some meat head is going to say”but..but..but Trent Dilfer and Mark Rypien won Super Bowls too” crap, but they didn’t drive the length of the field in the final 2 minutes to beat te NFL’s ONLY 18-0 team. Dilfer benefited from playing with the best or 2nd best defense ever and Rypien from playing on a dynastic Redskins team that had already won 2 SB’s with 2 different QB’s. That Team was pre cap and was loaded with studs 1-53. Let the Numskulls disrespect and under estimate Eli, while we all sit back and enjoy the best 15 years in Giants history led by the greatest QB in Giants History.
+10
+100.
But demo, I’ve pushed this line for years. You’re wasting your breath if you think that opinion changes anything. It’s the sit back and enjoy it part that should make you happy.
Like I said in the first line- I just laugh at it..Living down here in Orlando my best friends are Bucs and Cowboys fans and my brother in Law is a Pats fan, so you can imagine both the crap I took pre Jan 2008 and the retribution I’ve delivered since then..
Those last 3 games of 2007 even with future SB titles will always be special. Those 3 games along with SF, Buf in 1990 and Minn in 2000 are my favorite games of alltime. 1986 was good but really we were a great team so it was expected.
I’m probably biased, as I attended that first Super Bowl win (1986/87), and it wasn’t really all that “expected” at the time. Denver with Elway, the Giants having had two decades plus of futility (with a couple of years exception), and the “experts” saying that Phil Simms couldn’t win big games. I’d already been a Giants fan for 25 years, and like all the Big Blue fans in Pasadena that day, I almost couldn’t believe what was taking place… that the Giants were actually winning the Super Bowl. A great memory.
I think you just made me cry!
Every word of that is absolutely perfect!
Lets go Eli!!!
I’m going NYG: 34, Dallas: 21.
LOL, In my Big Money Football pool I picked the Giants and the exact same score for the Tie Breaker..I am nervous as hell though. I’m not a conspiracy theorist by nature, but I worry about the NFL’s Darling Cowboys getting some “Help” Monday night from the officials to keep their season alive..
There will be some “Home Cooking” on the menu for sure. I am sure the league would “like” dallas to be in the running right up to the last week.
The Giants cant be too conservative. They have to “semi” roll the CB’s.
If it’s close enough for a call to be made, or ignored…..look out.
Im thinking either 28-23 or 27-17 Giants win.
I with you 99.9%.
The only difference that stays in the back of my mind is;
What Phill Simms might have done with the talent this current team has at WR?
One could counter, what would Eli do with Simms offensive line?
The running backs (slight edge to Bradshaw) are just about a wash.
The tight end position is not even open to debate. All due respect to Boss.
Bavaro and Mowat rule.
Eli would do well in either time frame.
What would eli do playing opposite an all time top5 defense like Simms played with in 85-86 or what would Eli do playing under Parcells? It is all debatable but What isnt debatable is that Eli will go down as the greatest QB in giants history and that he will own every single Giants Passing record when he retires.
True dat.
But there is also no debate that Eli has WAY better down the field options.
Plus, Simms was never really “allowed” to open it up. Eli throws it deep better than Simms. Simms threw the seam, and intermediate better than Eli.
At least for now. Nothing saying Eli wont bet better at it.
Not a slap at either QB. Just food for thought.
I hear you man and Simms is my 3rd All time favorite Giant behind LT and Bavaro, but Simms was all heart and brains, he didnt have half the god given Talent Eli does..
+ “sideways 8″
I dont give a rats bananas about the good side of Dallas – They have more holes and make more mistakes than the Giants do . Just make sure we dont make the same type stupid mistakes that Dallas has become famous for and I cant see us losing
31-17 final Giants win
I think the Cowboys are gonna play them real tough early on in this game but the giants are gonna play all 4 quarters and end up winning by 10 or more.
I just think the matchups favor us. Our WR’s vs. their secondary, our D-line vs. their depleted O-line, our defense vs. their offense….
The three things that Dallas has got going for them in this game are:
1. They’re 1-4 and in DESPERATION mode. They’ll probably try everything and everything for that extra yd. Could have some trick plays up their sleeves.
2. They’re an NFC East Rival. Never and easy game
3. They’re home. ‘ nuff said.
I have to agree with those who are concerned about officiating. I hope Coughlin realizes that, even if unconsciously, the officials are well aware that ratings go up when the Cowboys are in contention late in the season. The Giants need to keep their foot on the accelerator and not play so conservatively that they leave this game up to a call or two.
I’ve seen too many instances of calls going the Cowboys way when they’re playing at home in my time as a fan to believe that the zebras don’t lean their way a bit. I really don’t think it’s purposeful. It’s the stuff they bring to the game (“Gee, Goodell will be really disappointed if the Cowboys are out of contention before Thanksgiving”) and the influence of the crowd.
So I’m hoping the Giants are two touchdowns up going into the 4th quarter and at least two scores up as they enter the final few minutes Monday night.
Demo – I think we here at 101 understand who Eli is as a QB. However, it does become frustrating that he seems to be over looked by many as a very good QB. Elite or very good is debatable. However, the point is that some still think QB like Matt Ryan and Carson Palmer are his equal. I’m sorry but that’s just not the case. I would compare Eli to someone like Paul Pierce is basketball is he a super star, a star? Who knows but when the hips are down, he plays just as well as any player in the game.
Dont let it frustrate you bro..Those who say that are just showing you their lack of Football IQ..Ask them where Palmer and Ryans Super Bowl rings and Super Bowl MVP’s are. Ask them at what point did either of them lead a game wining TD Drive in the final 2 minutes of a Super Bowl against the NFL’s only 18-0 team..I believe Ryan will be an elite NFL QB someday but he is far behind Eli ATM and Palmer has sucked booty or years..There are 4 QB’s that can boast equal SB Wins and better stats then Eli and one of them is a rapist (Allegedly). Everyone else is just…wait for it…UUT!
Agree with you on most your points. However, I am the Matt Ryan hater. I think he had a great rookie year but since then he has been overrated. Give me Flacco and his future over Ryan any day. Maybe his will get better an fulfill what most think he will become but I like Flacco, Sanchez, Bradford, Stafford and Freeman all better than him as young QBs.
I am worried that Dallas will get a few “no calls” from the officials on Monday Night to make up for all the the penalties they have been hit with in recent weeks.
Just watch. This will happen. I am calling it now.
That is what I was getting at upthread..I’m concerned that they will allow the OLine to hold our Pass Rushers and Jenkins to push/ pull our WR’s..