Eli Manning and Receivers vs. Cowboys Secondary:
Manning and his receiving corps has been on a roll during this five-game winning streak. Following last week’s dismantling of the Seattle Seahawks, Manning raised his season totals to 17 touchdowns and 2,075 yards passing. Those are numbers even big brother Peyton can appreciate. Receivers Hakeem Nicks [51 catches, 653 yards, and nine touchdowns], Steve Smith [47, 517, and three], and Mario Manningham [25, 385, and three] may be the best trio in the league. Dallas didn’t have an answer for them last game and nothing has changed since to suggest otherwise.
EDGE: GIANTS
Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs vs. Cowboys Front Seven:
Bradshaw and Jacobs are arguably the best tandem in the league. Jacobs initially bristled at being Bradshaw’s sidekick but has since fallen in line and has used his power running style as a productive antithesis to Bradshaw’s speed and elusiveness. The Cowboys couldn’t even stop Green Bay’s anemic rushing attack in Wade Phillips’s swan song last week, so nothing suggests that they can stop Big Blue’s dangerous combo.
EGDE: GIANTS
Giants O-Line vs. Cowboys D-Line:
Banged up or not – and New York’s offensive line is about the most banged-up unit in the league – things have not slowed down. They continue to churn out obscene amounts of yardage and allow the ‘skill position’ players to put up gaudy stats. The Cowboys three down linemen hasn’t been the problem and when you count linebacker DeMarcus Ware [eight sacks, 72.5 tackles] as the fourth rusher, Dallas actually has a premiere unit. But New York has stymied every other pass rush – including Ware’s unit in Week 7.
EDGE: GIANTS
John Kitna and Receivers vs. Giants Secondary:
Kitna, a journeyman passer, actually had moderate success the last time these two faced. When Tony Romo was knocked out of the game, it was Kitna who led multiple scoring drives and kept the score respectable, scoring 15 points in the final 3:35. Tight end Jason Witten [nine catches, 95 yards, and touchdown] and rookie receiver Dez Bryant [two receiving touchdowns] were awesome in defeat but New York’s secondary isn’t the type of unit that gets victimized by the same team twice. They’ll certainly be more prepared this time.
EDGE: GIANTS
Marion Barber and Felix Jones vs. Giants Front Seven:
The Cowboys’ rushing attack has been non-existent this season. When interim head coach Jason Garrett called the plays as offensive coordinator, Dallas’ pass-run ratio was nearly 65-35. Don’t expect that to change much, now that Garrett has taken over the full reigns. Last time out Jones was the lead rusher with 35 measly yards. If Big Blue’s front four can take the running game out of the equation early, Osi Umenyiora and Co. will just tee off on Kitna, making for a long day.
EDGE: GIANTS
Cowboys O-Line vs. Giants D-Line:
This unit has been maligned all season for their lack of moving the pile and making running lanes appear. Not to mention the fact that this is the same unit that possibly ended Romo’s season when they failed to pick up a blitzing Michael Boley in Week 7. Umenyiora is second in the league with eight sacks. He and Justin Tuck [four sacks] have had some of their best days against the Cowboys. With the erratic Kitna calling the shots, Big Blue may make up for not recording a sack last week.
EDGE: GIANTS
Special Teams:
Rookie punter Matt Dodge has actually gotten better over the last few weeks, compared to his skittish start to the season. He had a 50-yard average last week, raising his season average to 46.4 per punt. The Big Blue return team, however, is still struggling as neither Darius Reynaud [5.9 per punt return, 18.4 per kick return] nor Will Blackmon [9.7, 17] have made fans forget about the stellar Domenik Hixon. Meanwhile, Bryant has been solid-to-spectacular with his returns [93-yard punt return for a touchdown against New York in Week 7] and could be the equalizer.
EDGE: COWBOYS
Coaches:
Garrett, who has Jersey roots as a former Giants player and an in-state collegiate [Princeton], is seemingly overmatched in this category. This is his first attempt at being a head coach – albeit as an interim – while the veteran Coughlin owns a Super Bowl ring and finds ways to rally his team. This is perhaps the biggest mismatch on the board.
EDGE: GIANTS
