New York Sports

By KEVIN SHIELDS, WCBSTV.com
NEW YORK (CBS) ― It's a big week for the Giants, despite the confidence and even borderline cockiness with which many are approaching – and even looking past – Sunday's game against the injury-depleted and Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants (6-1) are coming off an ugly but season-changing type of win in Pittsburgh. They gained a season-low 83 yards rushing and had just 282 total yards, their second-lowest output of the season.

The Big Blue defense, however, played out of their minds against Pittsburgh, forcing four turnovers – all courtesy of Ben Roethlisberger interceptions.

The Giants showed a ton of heart in that 21-14 victory and did something that the great teams often do: win regardless of the circumstances. They did it with defense, were able to weather a sub-par offensive showing and some big penalties, and in doing so emerged victorious in a game they probably had no business winning.

They also did not commit a turnover, which has been a theme so far this season. New York has a league-low four giveaways, including no lost fumbles, and is tied for sixth in the league in turnover differential at plus-5.

Week 9: Giants-Cowboys Preview

Coming into the season, the Week 9 matchup with Dallas was viewed as one of 2008's most-anticipated games. However, it has taken on a totally different feel now due to the fact that the Cowboys (5-3) have more injuries -- and significant ones at that -- than seemingly any team in the NFL. Sunday's game has been looked at all week as a surefire Giants win and potentially a blowout.

That said, coach Tom Coughlin and his staff need to reiterate to the players that the outcome of this game may prove vitally important going forward, particularly in a tight NFC East race. The Giants can't afford to take the Cowboys too lightly and give up ground in a division that produced three playoff teams last season and could very well do the same in 2008.

The Giants shouldn't necessarily be concerned with their problems running the football last week, but Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward do need to improve against the Cowboys Sunday. Both Ward (6.2) and Jacobs (4.9) find themselves among the NFL's top 8 in yards-per-carry, but the Giants collectively could muster only 2.4 per carry against the Steelers. If the Giants can return to the rushing success they achieved prior to last week, they'll force the Cowboys to keep eight men in the box, hence opening up things for Eli Manning.

Manning will need to rely on his outstanding offensive line against the Dallas pass rush, led by Demarcus Ware, and use play-action to pick apart a Dallas secondary that has intercepted only two passes on the season. In fact, Dallas' defense is one of the worst in the league at forcing turnovers with just seven takeaways (T-26th in NFL) and a minus-5 turnover differential (27th in NFL).

If Manning gets comfortable in the pocket and the running game does what we're all accustomed to seeing, the Giants' offense should be able to wear Dallas out.

The Giants defense, on the other hand, must maintain its focus and keep doing what it's been doing all season. The Giants lay claim to the third-best total defense and sixth-best scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 271.4 yards and 16.4 points per game, respectively.

Regardless of the Cowboys' quarterback situation or the potential absence of All-Pro tight end Jason Witten, Sunday is still a division game in an intense rivalry. Sure, the Cowboys aren't scaring anyone off with a QB tandem of 74-year-old Brad Johnson and former New York Jet backup Brooks Bollinger, but the team still has weapons on both sides of the football.

The aforementioned Ware has been a beast coming off the edge, and before last week's win over Tampa Bay had earned a sack in 10 straight games (11 if you count their playoff loss to the Giants last season). He stands second in the NFL in the category this season, with 9.0 sacks through eight games. It will be a true test for left tackle David Diehl to keep Ware at bay, and the Giants may need to keep a tight end or running back in the box to help keep Ware off of Manning's blind side.

The Giants will also be challenged by standout halfback Marion Barber, who's sixth in the league in rushing with 611 yards. If Barber can get going, the Cowboys could keep the ball out of Johnson's hands and help Dallas control the clock. Fred Robbins (listed as probable with a hand injury) and Barry Cofield will be counted on to continue their success in stuffing the run between the tackles.

Many analysts are getting on defensive back Aaron Ross for being inconsistent and a coverage liability, but we shouldn't forget that he's the Giants best cover corner. With that comes the responsibility to constantly cover every opponent's top receiver. When you look at the Giants' schedule, those WRs have included Santana Moss, Torry Holt, Chad Ocho Cinco, Braylon Edwards, and Hines Ward – all of whom have been to at least one Pro Bowl. That's a pretty impressive list and, sometimes, a great receiver is just going to have a good day regardless of who's covering him.

The Giants' secondary has been significantly better than prognosticated, and should be excited to look across the line of scrimmage and see Johnson. The G-Men are ranked fifth in the league in both passing defense (185.4 ypg) and passing touchdowns allowed (seven), and should be able to team with the D-line to confuse and stifle Johnson, who has been basically horrible since taking over for Romo a few weeks ago.

Should Witten – who's questionable with a broken rib – miss the game, everything will ride on Terrell Owens' ability to stop whining and play. Without Witten, Dallas would also be relying heavily on new acquisition Roy Williams, and how much of the playbook he's been able to master in the three weeks since coming over in a trade with Detroit.

While the Giants should win and get to 7-1, it would be foolish to underestimate the Cowboys. Even without Romo and possibly Witten, the Cowboys are one of the most talented teams in the NFC, if not the NFL. They'll be coming to Giants Stadium to play. If the Giants do the same, they should remain the only one-loss team in the NFC and maintain the conference's best record.

Is that a big "if?" We'll find out Sunday.


 

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