Giants & Cowboys Look to Get Back to Winning Ways

Cowboys RB Marion Barber NFL 2008 Week 15 New York Giants (11-2) at Dallas Cowboys (8-5) | NFL 2008 Week 15 Analysis, Preview & Prediction

The New York Giants were cruising along with seven consecutive wins in a row until division rival Philadelphia showed up at Giants Stadium to defeat the Giants 20-14 last Sunday.

Turned out New York clinched the NFC East anyway because Dallas lost to Pittsburgh after winning three in a row.

With the Giants 7-game and Cowboys 3-game winning streaks terminated, the teams head for a Sunday Night primetime showdown in Big D.

New York Giants (11-2) at Dallas Cowboys (8-5)

The NFC East champion New York Giants (11-2) look to clinch a first round playoff bye as they visit the Dallas Cowboys (8-5) in Texas Stadium on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys need to keep winning to insure a playoff berth as they hang on to the last playoff spot in the NFC. The Giants are 5-1 on the road this season, and the Dallas Cowboys are 5-1 at home.

New York wants to get back to its No. 1-ranked NFL ground game, led by BRANDON JACOBS, who rumbled for 117 yards against Dallas in Week 9. Philly limited the Giants to 88 yards. If RB MARION BARBER's toe limits him, the national TV audience will get a look at rookie TASHARD CHOICE, who rushed for the most yards vs. Pittsburgh this year, 88, and added 78 receiving. Plus, there's always QB TONY ROMO -- third in the league in passer rating -- just flinging it.

"There is not going to be any lack of motivation on either side and it is going to be a great game to be a part of," says center SHAUN O'HARA of the Giants, who are 5-4 in their last nine games in Dallas, including the playoffs. "It is a Sunday night game, so everybody is going to be jacked up and it certainly does have other implications for both teams."

The Series: Cowboys & Giants Square Off for 94th Time

The Cowboys and Giants have squared off 93 times with Dallas holding a 54-37-2 advantage. Over the last 21 games between the Cowboys and Giants, 12 games have been decided by a touchdown or less, with nine of those by four points-or-less and three in overtime. Last years NFC Divisional Playoff game, is the only time the Cowboys and Giants have met in the playoffs. The Giants defeated the Cowboys in Dallas 21-17, en route to their Super Bowl XLII Championship.

Last Time: New York Giants 35, Dallas Cowboys 14 (Nov. 2, 2008)

The Giants and Cowboys last met earlier this season at Giants Stadium in front of 78,826 fans.

Giants seize control from the onset

The Giants defeated the Cowboys 35-14 as starting quarterback Tony Romo was sidelined with a pinky injury in his throwing hand. In that game, Giants QB Eli Manning threw 3 TD passes (13, 5, 11) & RB Brandon Jacobs ran for 117 yards & scored 1 TD.

Eli Manning completed 16 of 27 passes for 147 yards and threw touchdown passes to Kevin Boss, Steve Smith and Amani Toomer in the first half.

Brandon Jacobs (117 yards on 17 carries) and Derrick Ward (63 yards on 12 attempts) ran in for second- half scores for the Giants.

The offense scored touchdowns all five times it ventured inside Dallas' 20-yard line, a marked improvement over the previous week's one-for-six showing in Pittsburgh.

Giants Defense Seizes Control

The Giants defense was in control throughout the game, keeping the Dallas offense out of the end zone until the fourth quarter, neutralizing Marion Barber to only 54 yards on 19 carries, Terrell Owens (five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown) and harassing Johnson and Bollinger with four sacks and constant pressure.

The Giants had four takeaways for the second week in a row and held the Cowboys to 183 total yards, 102 passing yards and 11 first downs.

The Giants scored 21 points off turnovers -- two interceptions by Corey Webster in the first half off Johnson and another by James Butler in the third quarter off Brooks Bollinger.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Philadelphia Eagles 20, New York Giants 14

The New York Giants were handed a 20-14 loss by the Philadelphia Eagles at home suffering only their second loss this NFL 2008 season.

Eli Manning completed 13-of-27 passes for 123 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions to lead the Giants offense. Steve Smith led the Giants with four receptions for 47 yards, while Brandon Jacobs added 52 yards on 10 carries on the ground.

The Eagles scored the first 10 points of the game and held the Giants scoreless until a blocked field goal by New York was returned 71 yards by Kevin Dockery for a score. Dockery's return came as the first half ended, thus cutting the Eagles lead to 10-7.

Both teams were able to tack on points in the third quarter, before the Eagles scored 10 unanswered points early in the fourth quarter to take a 20-7 lead with only minutes remaining. The Giants scored once more on their final drive when Manning threw a one-yard touchdown to Darcy Johnson cutting the Eagles lead to 20-14.

After the Giants onside kick attempt failed on the ensuing kickoff, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to run off the remaining time on the clock and secure the 20-14 win.

The Giants had won seven consecutive games, including six in a row against teams with winning records. New York suffered its first loas at home (6-1) and in the NFC East (4-1) division.

Despite the loss, the Giants claimed the NFC East title as Dallas was defeated by the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 20-13.

The NFL's highest-scoring team couldn't score, as the Giants scored their only TD on offense with 15 seconds remaining in the game. The Giants running attack was limited to only 88 yards (72 yards less than their per-game average). The Giants, second in the NFL in time of possession, held the ball on offense for only 25:06.

Brian Westbrook of the Eagles ran for 131 yards. The Giants had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 14 straight games.

The game ended a tumultuous week in which wide receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended and placed on the reserve/nonfootball injury list after he was wounded in an accidental shooting. Linebacker Antonio Pierce has also been involved in the investigation.

The Giants had season-low totals of 211 yards and 14 first downs. New York converted only three of 11 third down opportunities and went zero-for-three on fourth down. Manning completed less than half of his passes (13 of 27, 48.1 percent) for the first time this year, though at least three of his throws were dropped.

Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook gained 203 yards from scrimmage (131 yards on 33 rushing attempts and 72 yards on six catches). Westbrook scored both Eagles touchdowns (30-yard run in the second quarter and a 40-yard reception in fourth). David Akers also kicked two field goals (51, 34 yards) as the Eagles improved to 7-5-1.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Dallas Cowboys 13

The Dallas Cowboys suffered their fifth loss of the season, a 20-13 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Playing in frigid conditions, the Cowboys and Steelers fought through the elements to manage a field goal each by halftime.

In the third quarter, Dallas scored 10 points on its first two drives.

On the Cowboys first drive of the third quarter, Tony Romo found Terrell Owens in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Pittsburgh punted on the next series and the Cowboys drove the ball to the Steelers 15-yard line in seven plays highlighted by a 50-yard passing connection from Romo to rookie running back Tashard Choice.

However, the Cowboys were not able to punch the ball in for a TD and were forced to settle for Nick Folk's second field goal of the game (33-yards) which extended the Cowboys lead to 13-3.

The Steelers began their comeback late in the fourth quarter when Jeff Reed hit a 41-yard field goal on the Steelers second drive of the 4th quarter to trim the Cowboys lead to 13-6.

After forcing Dallas to punt on the ensuing drive, Pittsburgh drove the length of the field and finished with a game-tying touchdown as Ben Roethlisberger connected with Heath Miller from six yards out to make the score 13-13.

With 2:04 remaining, the Cowboys next series was interrupted when Romo's pass on the second play of the drive was intercepted by DeShea Townsend, who returned the pick 25 yards for the score to put the Steelers up 20-13.

The Cowboys final drive fell short after five plays with Romo's last pass of the game on fourth down falling incomplete to give the Pittsburgh Steelers the 20-13 win.

NEW YORK GIANTS (11-2)

  • - Including playoff games, Giants QB ELI MANNING is 25-6 over his past 31 starts. Manning has a 102.2 passer rating in past 5 vs. the Dallas Cowboys (including playoffs)
  • - RB BRANDON JACOBS has 6 rush TDs over past 5 games. Jacobs rushed for 117 yards & scored 1 TD in last meeting against Cowboys. When Jacobs rushes for 100 or more yards, the Giants are 8-1. When Jacobs has 10 or more rushing attempts (including playoffs), the Giants are 24-5.
  • - RB DERRICK WARD had 63 yards & 1 TD in last meeting earlier this season against the Cowboys
  • - WR AMANI TOOMER has 3 TDs in past 2 games vs. the Dallas Cowboys, including 2 TDs in 2007 Divisional playoff matchup. Including playoffs, Giants have won 9 in row when Toomer records a TD catch. WR STEVE SMITH had 1st career receiving TD in last meeting. TE KEVIN BOSS has TD catch in 4 of past 7. Had TD in last meeting
  • - DE JUSTIN TUCK has 14.5 sacks in past 14 (including Super Bowl XLII). When Tuck has sack (including playoffs), Giants are 13-4 (.765). Had 2.5 sacks in last meeting. Blocked FG last week & CB KEVIN DOCKERY returned it 71 yards for TD. CB COREY WEBSTER had career-high 2 INTs in last game vs. the Dallas Cowboys

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-5)

  • - Dallas Cowboys QB TONY ROMO is 26-10 (.722) as an NFL starter. In past 2 games vs. the New York Giants, Romo has 129.2 passer rating with 8 TDs vs. 2 INTs. Has 4 TDs in each of past 2 vs. the New York Giants. Cowboys are 18-3 (.857) when Romo starts & has 100.0 or more rating
  • - When RB MARION BARBER has 11 or more carries, Cowboys are 26-4 (.867). Has 37 TDs (31 rush, 6 receiving) in past 43. In Div., Barber rushed for 129 yards & 1 TD
  • - WR TERRELL OWENS has 13 receiving TDs in 11 meetings (including playoffs) & aims for 5th in row vs. the New York Giants with TD. TE JASON WITTEN had 6 catches for 116 yards & 1 TD in last home meeting. Rookie TE MARTELLUS BENNETT has TD in 3 of past 4
  • - LB DE MARCUS WARE has 30.0 sacks in past 27. Has sack in 23 of past 27. LB GREG ELLIS has 17.5 sacks in past 26. LB BRADIE JAMES has 5.0 sacks in past 7. CB TERENCE NEWMAN has INT in 2 of past 4. Rookie CB MIKE JENKINS had 23-yard INT-TD in last meeting.

PREDICTION: New York Giants 31, Dallas Cowboys 24

The Dallas Cowboys hold a 24-11 advantage over the Giants in regular season games played in Texas Stadium, even though the Giants won last season's NFC Divisional playoff in Dallas.

With a win or other scenarios, the Giants earn a first-round bye. The Cowboys need to keep winning to insure a playoff berth.

Romo's back and 90 percent of his game on Sunday will be brilliant.

But Romo's achilles heal is that he makes critical mistakes at the most inopportune times. Case in point, last week's interception against the Steelers. Romo is a very good quarterback, but he won't become a great one until he shrugs off his knack for big turnovers in big spots.

Give the Eagles Credit for last week's win

However, the swirling winds at Giants Stadium coupled with critical drops by the Giants receiving corp and a weak defensive effort cost the Giants the game. Apparently, the Burress saga had more of an impact on the defense as Antonio Pierce was distracted due to his involvement.

Marion Barber's Toe will be the Limiting Factor

The Giants lack of defensive focus was exposed by an extremely effective Eagles offensive game plan that featured their star running back Brian Westbrook. Barber's style is different but just as effective as Westbrook's. However, Barber's toe injury will keep the Cowboys from running their full complement on offense.

Giants Live for the Cowboys

More often than not the Eagles have the Giants number. But this is the Cowboys and the Giants rise up to the occassion against their long-time NFC East rival. Taken together, all these factors lead to an exciting NFL contest on Sunday night and a Giants 31-24 victory. If Barber is at full capacity, expect the score to turn in the Cowboys favor 31-24.

Giants & Cowboys Look to Get Back to Winning Ways - NFL 2008 Week 15