NFL Divisional Playoffs: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
By Chris Pokorny, PFCritics Writer January 13, 2008
Game: New York Giants (11-6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (13-3) Where: RCA Dome (Dallas, TX) When: 4:30 PM EST Announcers: Troy Aikman & Joe Buck (FOX)
"See y'all Sunday."
That's what Terrell Owens said at the end of practice Friday, as he prepares to make another quick recovery from an injury. The Cowboys will meet the Giants for the third time this season. In their previous two match-ups, the Cowboys won through their offense. Instead of the typical comparison preview I've done for each playoff games, I'm going to highlight the main contributors from each of the two games played, along with my official prediction.
Game: New York Giants (11-6) vs.
Dallas Cowboys
(13-3)
Where: RCA Dome (Dallas, TX)
When: 4:30 PM EST
Announcers: Troy Aikman & Joe Buck (FOX)
"See y'all Sunday."
That's what Terrell Owens said at the end of practice Friday, as he prepares to
make another quick recovery from an injury. The Cowboys will meet the Giants for
the third time this season. In their previous two match-ups, the Cowboys won
through their offense. Instead of the typical comparison preview I've done for
each playoff games, I'm going to highlight the main contributors from each of
the two games played, along with my official prediction.
Let's start out with the season stats for the showdown between the Giants and
Cowboys...OFFENSE
Category |
Giants |
Cowboys |
Points Scored |
23.3 (14th) |
28.4 (2nd) |
Passing |
197.1 (21st) |
256.6 (4th) |
Rushing |
134.3 (4th) |
109.1 (17th) |
Total Offense (yards) |
331.4 (16th) |
365.7 (3rd) |
DEFENSE
Category |
Giants |
Cowboys |
Points Scored |
21.9 (17th) |
20.3 (13th) |
Passing |
207.3 (11th) |
213.1 (13th) |
Rushing |
97.7 (8th) |
94.6 (6th) |
Total Defense (yards) |
305.0 (7th) |
307.6 (9th) |
Quarterback |
Eli Manning
(Game 1): 28/41 for 312 yards. 4 TDs, 1 INT.
Eli Manning (Game 2): 23/34 for 236 yards. 1 TD, 2 INTs.
Combined: 51/75 for 548 yards. 5 TDs, 3 INTs.
|
Tony Romo
(Game 1): 15/24 for 345 yards. 4 TDs, 1 INT.
Tony Romo (Game 2): 20/28 for 247 yards. 4 TDs, 1 INT.
Combined: 35/52 for 592 yards. 8 TDs, 2 INTs. |
Running Back |
Brandon Jacobs
(Game 1): 6 rushes, 26 yards.
Brandon Jacobs
(Game 2): 23 rushes, 95 yards. 1 catch, 10 yards.
Combined: 29 rushes, 101 yards. 1 catch, 10 yards. |
Marion Barber
(Game 1): 11 rushes, 65 yards, 1 TD. 1
catch, 29 yards.
Marion Barber
(Game 2): 12 rushes, 34 yards. 3 catches, -1 yard.
Combined: 23 rushes, 99 yards, 1 TD. 4 catches, 28 yards.
Julius Jones (Game 1): 16 rushes, 66 yards. 1
catch, 11 yards.
Julius Jones (Game 2): 11 rushes, 48 yards.
Combined: 27 rushes, 114 yards. 1 catch, 11 yards.
|
Receivers |
Plaxico
Burress (Game 1): 8 catches, 144 yards, 3 TDs.
Plaxico Burress (Game 2): 4 catches, 24 yards.
Combined: 12 catches, 168 yards, 3 TDs.
Amani Toomer (Game 1): 9 catches, 91
yards.
Amani Toomer
(Game 2): 3 catches, 37 yards.
Combined: 11 catches, 128 yards. |
Terrell Owens
(Game 1): 3 catches, 87 yards, 2 TDs.
Terrell Owens (Game 2): 6 catches, 125 yards, 2 TDs.
Combined: 9 catches, 212 yards, 4 TDs.
Jason Witten (Game 1): 6 catches, 116
yards, 1 TDs.
Jason Witten
(Game 2): 2 catches, 12 yards.
Combined: 8 catches, 128 yards, 1 TD.
Patrick Crayton
(Game 1): 3 catches, 51 yards.
Patrick Crayton
(Game 2): 5 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD.
Combined: 8 catches, 116 yards, 1 TD.
|
Defense |
NYG (Game 1):
45 PA, 1 INT, 1 fumble, 1 sack.
NYG (Game 2): 31 PA, 1 INT, 2 sacks.
Combined: 38 PPG, 2 INT, 1 fumble, 3 sacks. |
Dallas
(Game 1): 35 PA, 1 INT, 1 sack.
Dallas (Game 2): 20 PA, 2 INT, 5 sacks.
Combined: 27.5 PPG, 3 INT, 6 sacks.
|
Special Teams |
Lawrence Tynes
(Game 1): 3 of 3 from 44, 48, and 24 yards.
Lawrence Tynes (Game 2): 2 of 2 from 40 and 26 yards.
Combined: 5 of 5, with 3 kicks beyond 40 yards. |
Nick Folk
(Game 1): 1 of 1 from 31 yards.
Nick Folk
(Game 2): 1 of 1 from 44 yards.
Combined: 2 of 2, with 1 kick beyond 40 yards. |
FINAL PREDICTION: Dallas Cowboys 26, New York
Giants 24.
Forget all of the talk about Jessica Simpson; this game will be whether or
not the Dallas Cowboys are a better football team than the New York Giants. As
hot as the Giants have been lately, the Cowboys physically manhandled them in
terms of scoring points on two occasions this season. For every effective pass
rusher the Giants have, they couldn't get to Romo. The Giants, who led the
league in sacks, only brought him down three times in two games. Terrell Owens
also dominated the Giants' secondary both times he faced them, and with how he's
recovered from injuries in the past, I doubt he'll be hampered on gameday. The
Giants will get solid play from Eli Manning, but with both defenses getting
their fair share of stops, the Cowboys will get the better end of a competitive
contest.
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