MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Dallas (1-4) already trails the Giants (4-2) and Philadelphia Eagles by three games in the division, and another loss Monday night could bury owner Jerry Jones' hopes of becoming the first franchise to play in a Super Bowl in which it is the host team. Dallas, despite possessing the league’s third-ranked offense and fourth-rated defense, but that hasn't helped the Cowboys overcome 62 penalties -- the second-worst total in the league -- and a defense that has forced four turnovers including one in Dallas' four losses. Dallas will try to avoid its worst six-game start since the 1989 team began 0-8 en route to a 1-15 campaign. Since the NFL went to a six-team postseason in 1990, only five of 97 teams that started 1-4 made the playoffs. The Cowboys are the sloppiest team in the NFL. They lead the league in penalty yards per game (80.9). Beyond that, their head coach is consistently clueless, there is no leadership on their team and they consistently make ill-timed turnovers. All of the pressure is on the Cowboys and it is a team easily frusterated in situations such as this. The Cowboys outgained Minnesota 314-188 in last Sunday's 24-21 road loss, but made numerous mistakes. Tony Romo threw two interceptions that led to 10 points for the Vikings, who opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by Percy Harvin.
Among the many problematic issues with the Cowboys are an inability to run the ball and an inability to commit penalties. They are averaging just 95 yards per game and absorbing an average of 81 yards per game in penalties. Facing a Giants defense that has accumulated 21 sacks – second in the league – the Cowboys may need to continue to try and pound the ball on the ground to alleviate pressure on quarterback Tony Romo.
As for the Giants, they certainly won't take its bitter division rival lightly, since it was in a similar situation - albeit not as desperate - after stumbling out of the gate this season. New York will likely feature a heavy dose of Bradshaw, who has gone over 100 yards in two of his last three games and has 582 yards on the season. The Giants are 4-2 but they have played four home games and just two road games. Eli Manning has thrown for 1,479 yards and 10 TDs, but he also has been turnover-prone with eight picks and four lost fumbles. Hakeem Nicks has been his favorite target with 36 receptions and six touchdowns, But New York has also
The Giants can be - at times - just as sloppy as the Cowboys. They had a fumble and two interceptions against Tennessee, they had two fumbles and a pick versus Indianapolis and three interceptions and a fumble against Carolina. Even in a one-sided win at Houston,Manningstill threw two interceptions. New York swept Dallas for the first time since 2004 last year, including a memorable 33-31 win in the first game at Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 20. Romo was picked off three times in that game while Eli Manning threw for 330 yards, and engineered a game-winning drive that set up Lawrence Tynes' 37-yard field goal as time expired. The Giants enter on a three-game winning streak on the strength of a defense that has limited opponents to an NFC-best 264.8 yards per game. The resurgence of Osi Umenyiora has keyed the success. Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and the rest of the Giants' defensive front could be facing a depleted Dallas offensive line if left guard Kyle Kosier cannot play. Both teams have had their ups and downs this year with sloppy games,
The Cowboys lead the all-time series 55-38-2, but 31 of the contests have been decided by less than a touchdown. This game is all about the turnovers and penalties. The Cowboys are sloppy, but very quietly, the Giants can be as well. This is it for the Cowboys: they can't dig any deeper of a hole. And for the second time this season, they'll play with the urgency. Romo will still have a giveaway but it won't come at a crippling time. Meanwhile, the Cowboys defense will dominate this contest and pressure Manning regularly, forcing the Giants into field goals instead of touchdowns, and a couple of mistakes of their own. I think it will be another close one here with the Giants coming out on top by a FG.
1*>>>>>> NEW YORK GIANTS +3 +105
BONUS SELECTION
1*>>>>>> GIANTS/COWBOYS OVER 45 1/2
Dallas (1-4) already trails the Giants (4-2) and Philadelphia Eagles by three games in the division, and another loss Monday night could bury owner Jerry Jones' hopes of becoming the first franchise to play in a Super Bowl in which it is the host team. Dallas, despite possessing the league’s third-ranked offense and fourth-rated defense, but that hasn't helped the Cowboys overcome 62 penalties -- the second-worst total in the league -- and a defense that has forced four turnovers including one in Dallas' four losses. Dallas will try to avoid its worst six-game start since the 1989 team began 0-8 en route to a 1-15 campaign. Since the NFL went to a six-team postseason in 1990, only five of 97 teams that started 1-4 made the playoffs. The Cowboys are the sloppiest team in the NFL. They lead the league in penalty yards per game (80.9). Beyond that, their head coach is consistently clueless, there is no leadership on their team and they consistently make ill-timed turnovers. All of the pressure is on the Cowboys and it is a team easily frusterated in situations such as this. The Cowboys outgained Minnesota 314-188 in last Sunday's 24-21 road loss, but made numerous mistakes. Tony Romo threw two interceptions that led to 10 points for the Vikings, who opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by Percy Harvin.
Among the many problematic issues with the Cowboys are an inability to run the ball and an inability to commit penalties. They are averaging just 95 yards per game and absorbing an average of 81 yards per game in penalties. Facing a Giants defense that has accumulated 21 sacks – second in the league – the Cowboys may need to continue to try and pound the ball on the ground to alleviate pressure on quarterback Tony Romo.
As for the Giants, they certainly won't take its bitter division rival lightly, since it was in a similar situation - albeit not as desperate - after stumbling out of the gate this season. New York will likely feature a heavy dose of Bradshaw, who has gone over 100 yards in two of his last three games and has 582 yards on the season. The Giants are 4-2 but they have played four home games and just two road games. Eli Manning has thrown for 1,479 yards and 10 TDs, but he also has been turnover-prone with eight picks and four lost fumbles. Hakeem Nicks has been his favorite target with 36 receptions and six touchdowns, But New York has also
The Giants can be - at times - just as sloppy as the Cowboys. They had a fumble and two interceptions against Tennessee, they had two fumbles and a pick versus Indianapolis and three interceptions and a fumble against Carolina. Even in a one-sided win at Houston,Manningstill threw two interceptions. New York swept Dallas for the first time since 2004 last year, including a memorable 33-31 win in the first game at Cowboys Stadium on Sept. 20. Romo was picked off three times in that game while Eli Manning threw for 330 yards, and engineered a game-winning drive that set up Lawrence Tynes' 37-yard field goal as time expired. The Giants enter on a three-game winning streak on the strength of a defense that has limited opponents to an NFC-best 264.8 yards per game. The resurgence of Osi Umenyiora has keyed the success. Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and the rest of the Giants' defensive front could be facing a depleted Dallas offensive line if left guard Kyle Kosier cannot play. Both teams have had their ups and downs this year with sloppy games,
The Cowboys lead the all-time series 55-38-2, but 31 of the contests have been decided by less than a touchdown. This game is all about the turnovers and penalties. The Cowboys are sloppy, but very quietly, the Giants can be as well. This is it for the Cowboys: they can't dig any deeper of a hole. And for the second time this season, they'll play with the urgency. Romo will still have a giveaway but it won't come at a crippling time. Meanwhile, the Cowboys defense will dominate this contest and pressure Manning regularly, forcing the Giants into field goals instead of touchdowns, and a couple of mistakes of their own. I think it will be another close one here with the Giants coming out on top by a FG.
1*>>>>>> NEW YORK GIANTS +3 +105
BONUS SELECTION
1*>>>>>> GIANTS/COWBOYS OVER 45 1/2
