OFFICIAL GDT - COWBOYS vs GIANTS!!! - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Underdog · 12-14-2008, 03:21 AM

Cowboys vs. Giants
This Game Will Have Big Impact On Playoff Future

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GAME SET
WHAT: New York Giants (11-2) vs. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)
WHEN: Sunday, 7:15 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: NBC (Al Michaels and John Madden)

BIG ISSUE: All the talk this week about the Cowboys' internal turmoil has left almost no room to talk about the team they actually have to face on Sunday night - the 11-2, NFC East champion Giants. Last week's Cowboys loss to the Steelers locked up the division for the Giants anyway, but the Cowboy still need a win to keep pace in the wild-card race. If the season ended now, the Cowboys would be in, since they own a better conference record than the likewise 8-5 Atlanta Falcons. But the Falcons, who play 9-4 Tampa Bay, aren't the only teams the Cowboys have to stave off. The division rival Eagles (7-5-1) are only a half-game back, as are the Bears, who beat New Orleans on Thursday to go to 8-6. The Redskins (7-6) are one full game back but play the Eagles on Sunday. If the Cowboys lose Sunday, Dallas might find itself a game behind Atlanta, a half-game behind Philly or tied with Washington and Chicago. The Cowboys would still edge out Washington on strength of victory (the fifth tie-breaker), and would also be ahead of Chicago since the Cowboys have a better record in common games. Still, the Cowboys would rather avoid that tiebreaker mess by just beating the Giants.

The Giants may have won the division already, but it's not as if they don't have anything to play for. Carolina (10-3) is still battling with New York for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If Carolina beats Denver on Sunday and the Giants lose, both teams will have identical 11-3 records, bringing the two teams' face-off next week even more importance. If both teams win this Sunday, that next game is still important since the Giants would lock up home-field with a win (since there'd be one game left in the season and New York would be a game ahead of Carolina while holding the head-to-head tie-breaker) and all but lose it with a loss since both teams would have identical 11-3 records and Carolina would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with a game left in the season. The worst-case scenario for the Giants would be to lose to Dallas on Sunday, making them have to win out in order to play at home in the playoffs.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been known to have a few clunkers in his career, but as always, it's how you respond to adversity that defines you. After games in which Romo has thrown three or more interceptions (last year against Philadelphia and Buffalo), he averages 228 yards passing, more than a touchdown a game and just one interception. So even after Romo's three-pick, one-fumble performance against the Steelers last Sunday, the Giants should not expect him to be so turnover happy on Sunday.

The Giants finished their last game against the Cowboys with a whopping 30 sacks for the season. But now, five weeks later, that sack pace has slowed. Over the last five games, the Giants have only averaged 1.2 sacks a game, compared to their pace of 3.75 after beating the Cowboys earlier this season. That five-game span includes two zero-sack performances against the Eagles.

ONE-ON-ONE: While the issues at the Cowboys' safety position haven't received the media attention this week that it deserves, the play of safeties Ken Hamlin and Keith Davis, both of whom are expected to play despite injuries suffered last week against the Steelers, will be pivotal. The Giants may not have Plaxico Burress for the rest of the season, but that doesn't mean they can't be productive in the passing game. The Cowboys have had issues covering Giants veteran Amani Toomer in the past, and since Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said this week Toomer and other receivers will face double coverage at times during the game, Hamlin and Davis will have to be mobile and on top of their games if they are available to play.

Yes, the Giants' sack production has gone down recently, but that doesn't mean tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo will be taking their protection duties lightly on Sunday. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck still has 12 sacks so far and is a handful for any offensive lineman, and his fellow bookend Matthias Kiwanuka, who switched from outside linebacker to defensive end when the team lost Osi Umenyiora at the beginning of the season, is second on the team with six sacks. Both ends were productive in their last meeting against the Cowboys, Tuck registering 2.5 sacks and Kiwanuka netting one. Having quarterback Tony Romo back usually helps pass protection because of his mobility, but Colombo and Adams will still need to keep pass-rushers at bay.

SUPPORTING ROLE: With Adam Jones likely done for the season after suffering a herniated disk in his neck in his return to the field last week, rookie corners Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins will see an increase in playing time Sunday. Scandrick has been manning the slot most of the season, and will continue in that role, enabling the Cowboys to keep Terence Newman either at left corner or shadow the opponent's top receiver. Jenkins, who is set to finally return from a hamstring injury, will play in sub-packages if the Cowboys continue to move Anthony Henry into the safety position or the slot to cover the tight end. If that happens, Jenkins will line up at right corner. It is important Jenkins not be hesitant coming off of injury, especially since his drive and toughness were questioned after avoiding contact on run defense the last time these two teams played. Scandrick might also resume kickoff return duties along with Isaiah Stanback.

With Giants starting running back Brandon Jacobs already ruled out with a knee injury, New York will rely on backups Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to pick up the slack. It's not as if either has only played a limited amount the past two seasons, though, since the Giants like to use all three in the same game as part of what some have dubbed their "Earth, Wind and Fire" running attack. Bradshaw, at 5-9, 198 pounds, is more of a scat-back who can cut up and down the field with lightning speed. Ward, at 5-11, 210 is more of a hybrid of Bradshaw and Jacobs, who is a bruiser. Both have had success running against Dallas, although the Cowboys have seen Ward more than Bradshaw.

HEADSET GAMES: The last time the Cowboys played the Giants, New York ran for 200 yards. Questions naturally arose about the Cowboys' ability to defend the run, but head coach Wade Phillips pointed out this week that many of those big run plays came against the Cowboys' sub-packages, where they play more defensive backs and fewer linebackers. Phillips said the Cowboys won't make that kind of coaching mistake this time around, and will bring 10 guys up to defend the run if he has to.

The Giants probably have a hard time figuring out what to expect from the Cowboys this time around. Last time they played Dallas, the Cowboys were without Tony Romo, and as a result, their offensive balance suffered. Knowing the Cowboys likely could not pass effectively, the Giants stacked up against the run and blitzed the Cowboys into submission. The result was only 81 yards rushing and three interceptions. Since then, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said his team has watched film of every game since that match-up in the Meadowlands to get a better idea of how to defend the Cowboys offense. He said the Giants haven't watched last year's playoff victory over the Cowboys, though - the most recent game they've played against Romo.

HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
While there seem to be some injured egos in the Cowboys locker room, the actual injury report is quite lengthy. Only two players are listed as out, though - cornerback Adam Jones (neck) and left guard Montrae Holland (ankle). Listed as questionable are backup receiver Miles Austin (knee) and starting running back Marion Barber (calf/toe), who only had limited participation in practice on Friday after missing the rest of the week. Phillips has maintained Barber will likely be a game-time decision. Otherwise, the Cowboys seem to have dodged the injury bullet. Starting safeties Keith Davis (knee) and Ken Hamlin (ankle), starting linebacker Bradie James (ankle), backup corner Mike Jenkins (hamstring), long snapper L.P. Ladouceur (neck), starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff (concussion), backup linebacker Justin Rogers (illness), backup wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder), starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (knee), starting wide receiver Roy Williams (foot), and starting tight end Jason Witten (ankle) are all listed as probable. Williams has not practiced all week and the Cowboys still are worrying some over their starting safeties.

Giants
Two players are out for the Giants - starting running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) and backup linebacker Jonathan Goff (hamstring). Backup wide receiver Domenik Hixon (ankle/foot) and starting defensive tackle Fred Robbins (shoulder) are listed as questionable. Backup running back Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie (back), starting cornerback Aaron Ross (ankle) and starting defensive end Justin Tuck (lower leg) are all listed as probable.

Underdog · 12-14-2008, 03:28 AM

Here Are The New York Giants

IRVING, Texas - A star player finds himself in the wrong situation at the wrong time and winds up suspended. The ensuing week of practice is nothing short of a circus, filled with enough media questions to distract a seemingly unflappable team. The result of the upcoming game is a loss, and suddenly the question marks and red flags are raised. Welcome to the Cowboys' world, Giants. Following Plaxico Burress' arraignment on Dec. 1, the seemingly unbeatable - and not to mention emotionally untouchable - New York Giants were brought back down to earth by the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday. Come 7:15 p.m. (CST) Sunday at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys will try to make it two straight losses for the wounded 11-2 Giants and pick up a much-needed win on Sunday Night Football to help their NFC playoff cause.

What's Up?
Dating back to last season, the Giants have found plenty of success because of their ability to turn negatives into positives. But after suffering a 20-14 loss in Philadelphia this past Sunday, New York wide receiver Amani Toomer hinted Burress' accidental shooting distracted his team, saying, "We dealt with this all week, and played our worst game - I'll let you figure it out." Without Burress, Giants' receivers dropped numerous balls, including a would-be 85-yard touchdown pass by Domenik Hixon early in the second quarter. Eli Manning had one of his worst performances of the season, completing just 13 of his 27 pass attempts for 123 yards. And, to add injury to insult, starting running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) and standout cornerback Aaron Ross (ankle) left the game because of injuries.

While the Cowboys haven't had a player-suspended-followed-by-a-media-storm distraction since Week Seven (Adam "Pacman" Jones), they still found themselves on the wrong end of a 20-13 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday. Playing in below-freezing temperatures at Heinz Field, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo never really got into a rhythm and turned the ball over four times, including tossing the game-losing interception with less than three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys dominated for most of the game, though, holding the Steelers to just 238 yards and one offensive touchdown. Despite the loss, the 8-5 Cowboys still moved into the sixth and final wild-card spot if the playoffs began today, and are now just a game behind the 9-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fifth seed.

Statistical View

* Tony Romo has taken a lot of heat for the way he plays the quarterback position (and sometimes deservedly so, having committed 50 turnovers in his 36 career starts), but taking a closer look at the numbers, Romo has recorded a touchdown pass in 32 of his 36 career starts, totaling 77 to date. In his nearly-three year starting career, Romo has a career quarterback rating of 96.6 and has racked up the most 300-yard passing performances (16) in franchise history. Plus, he's 26-10 as a starter, and no matter how many times you turn over the ball, winning is all that matters.

* Still not convinced Romo's an elite NFL quarterback? Well, take a look at Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who was last season's Super Bowl MVP and a strong candidate for this year's NFL MVP Award. The former No. 1 overall pick has turned the ball over 86 times in just 70 career games, has a career QB rating of 76.4 and in just five years in New York, is already tied for third on the all-time Giants' interceptions list with 72. Plus, he's just 41-27 as a starter in the NFL.

* The Giants all-time receiving yards and touchdowns leader, Amani Toomer, has compiled 9,422 yards and 54 TDs in his 13-year career. Of those statistics, though, 1,125 yards and seven touchdowns have come in games against the Cowboys.

* Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware continued his dominating season last Sunday recording his NFC-leading 16th sack playing on a hyper-extended left knee. Ware has now recorded at least half a sack in 39 of his 61 career starts, and with just one more half sack, he will become the 11th defender to reach 50 career sacks in Cowboys' history. With three games to play, Ware has 30 sacks -and counting - in consecutive seasons, the most by a Cowboys players since Harvey Martin rang up 37.5 in 1976-77, back when sacks were not an official NFL statistic.

Chalk Talk
While Eli Manning tends to get most of the credit for the Giants' success this season, the New York running game is really the engine that makes this team go. The Giants have rushed for more than 112 yards in all but three games this year and have broken the 200-yard rushing mark five times. Brandon Jacobs, who's battling a knee injury that could keep him out of Sunday's game, has rushed for 1,002 yards and 12 touchdowns.

But, in the three games the team has rushed for less than 100 yards, Plaxico Burress has either been hurt or suspended. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week Seven, Burress was held out of the first quarter for missing a therapy session earlier in the week, and the team rushed for just 83 yards. In Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, Burress left the game early in the first half with a hamstring injury and the Giants ran for 87 yards. This past Sunday, when Burress was serving the first of his four-game suspension, the team rushed for just 88 yards against the Eagles. Coincidence? Not exactly. With receivers like Domenik Hixon and Amani Toomer starting in Burress' absence, the Eagles, Cardinals and Steelers were able to play man-coverage on the wideouts and stack eight in the box to stop the Giants' running attack.

With Burress out again for this Sunday, expect the Cowboys to follow this blueprint to a T. Cornerbacks Terence Newman and Anthony Henry should be on islands against Toomer, Hixon and Steve Smith, while safeties Ken Hamlin and Keith Davis creep up in the box to stop Jacobs and company if they are healthy enough to play following injuries suffered in Pittsburgh. Through 13 games this season, the Cowboys rank ninth in the NFL against the run, allowing just 94.8 rushing yards per game.

Connections
Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who played for four different teams in his NFL career, was a backup quarterback for the Giants from 2000-03 . . . Cowboys special teams coordinator Bruce Reed was on New York's coaching staff from 2002-03 . . . Giants quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer coached the Cowboys quarterbacks in 2006.

Miscellaneous
The Cowboys hold the series advantage against the Giants 54-37-2, but New York holds a 1-0 record against Dallas in the playoffs, and we probably don't need to point out when that victory occurred . . . The Cowboys are 2-0 on Sunday Night Football this season and are 5-1 at home so far this season . . . If the Cowboys pick up a victory against the Giants, they will secure a winning season for the 30th time in franchise history (49 years) and this will become the fifth winning season in the past six . . . Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens needs just 87 receiving yards to pass James Lofton for fifth place on the all-time receiving yards list. Owens also needs just four catches to pass Art Monk for seventh place on the all-time receptions list . . . Of the past 21 games between the Giants and Cowboys, 12 have been decided by no more than a touchdown - two of the nine by more than a touchdown occurred in the Cowboys' two-game regular-season sweep of the Giants last season.

alby · 12-14-2008, 03:42 AM

worst mojo ever.

horse900703 · 12-14-2008, 08:17 AM

must win!

Underdog · 12-14-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

worst mojo ever.

No worries - the abomination that once was is no more...

(thanks to jthig for deleting the "other" thread!)

jthig32 · 12-14-2008, 10:30 AM

You're welcome.

Underdog · 12-14-2008, 10:36 AM

Kirobaito · 12-14-2008, 10:44 AM

OK.

I have a final at 9:30 tomorrow morning.

Game starts at 2:30 AM, will go until 5:30 AM.

Yay or nay?

alby · 12-14-2008, 11:30 AM

^ Watch the game til the 4th quarter. The Boys are blowing them out baby!

Windmill360 · 12-14-2008, 12:13 PM

This one is for the season.

horse900703 · 12-14-2008, 12:16 PM

Barber playing today?

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 12:46 PM

Okay, if Romo somehow wins this, I think Silk himself needs admit Romo is a WINNER right here and now. Because right now, I'm not sure how they can win with this circus around the Cowboys right now against probably the best team in football.

BGMaverick9 · 12-14-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FINtastic

Okay, if Romo somehow wins this, I think Silk himself needs admit Romo is a WINNER right here and now. Because right now, I'm not sure how they can win with this circus around the Cowboys right now against probably the best team in football.

Aw man...you HAD to bring it up

It's definitely going to be an interesting game with all that is going on. How does the team react to it all, and etc. Are the Giants pissed or just ready to roll on to the playoffs and heal their wounds...etc etc.

PS I hope you did alright on your Finals.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

Aw man...you HAD to bring it up

It's definitely going to be an interesting game with all that is going on. How does the team react to it all, and etc. Are the Giants pissed or just ready to roll on to the playoffs and heal their wounds...etc etc.

PS I hope you did alright on your Finals.

Well you know he's going to be all over this thread (unfairly imo) if we lose

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 12:55 PM

The one nice thing is the Giants are about as banged up as we are. I know they have been pretty good at rollin' with the injuries this season, but missing their two biggest weapons in Plax and B-Jacobs will hurt against a defense that has been asserting itself. Maybe our defense can take the next step and start really creating some turnovers this weekend by flustering the Eli. If that doesn't happen, hopefully we can find a way to establish the run. I'm scared of the passing game this week. Hopefully we don't get Romo feeling like he needs to force the ball to TO even more.

Underdog · 12-14-2008, 01:02 PM

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 01:07 PM

Hopefully he destroys the right team...

Underdog · 12-14-2008, 01:10 PM

jthig32 · 12-14-2008, 01:28 PM

Not having to face Jacobs is huge for our defense. We're great at attacking the edges, but Jacobs tends to abuse our interior line.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horse900703

Barber playing today?

Gametime decision, my man.

Bayliss · 12-14-2008, 06:44 PM

Terrell Owens to the New York Giants

BGMaverick9 · 12-14-2008, 06:44 PM

DMN blogger/chat says he's looking good in warm-ups right now, so it's more likely he'll go.

Mavs Rule · 12-14-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGMaverick9

DMN blogger/chat says he's looking good in warm-ups right now, so it's more likely he'll go.

Great news! We have to have him to keep the giant's defense honest.

ty · 12-14-2008, 07:31 PM

Barber is playing.

Go Cowboys!

BGMaverick9 · 12-14-2008, 07:34 PM

If anyone can say right now with full confidence they know what will happen tonight is a whacko. Do the Giants want to bounce back and reclaim their NFC dominance for the year, will the Cowboys thrive on the drama or do the wheels come off for good tonight. This game and the Steelers/Ravens game were the two big ones for me today. The first one didn't disappoint, hope it's the same for this one.

Cowboys just need to win at all cost.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 08:20 PM

lol, the home crowd is booing TO

BGMaverick9 · 12-14-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FINtastic

lol, the home crowd is booing TO

I wasn't sure if I heard that right when I was watching tv.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 08:25 PM

Well, I'm pretty darn nervous. I feel like the wheels are going to come off tonight, but hopefully I'm wrong and Boys come out guns-a-blazing.

Good to see Miles Austin back on returns, btw.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 08:26 PM

Jerry sure looks nervous.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 08:27 PM

Freakin' TO.

If you are going to bitch for the ball, you sure as hell better catch it.

(And he's getting booed again)

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 08:29 PM

Ware is a beast.

I think that makes him the fourth fastest in NFL history to 50 sacks (or something like that)

BGMaverick9 · 12-14-2008, 08:31 PM

The crowd has some piss and vinegar in them tonight, they seem pretty jacked up.

FINtastic · 12-14-2008, 08:32 PM

I know, I like to hear it. We are going to need all the help we can get from the crowd.

I also like to hear them giving it to TO.

Bayliss · 12-14-2008, 08:37 PM

Ware is such a stud. Just wish the offense was a little more consistent. They kill more of their own opportunities than the defense ever does. Penalties, or dropped passes, etc.