Giants Looking For Revenge For Season Opening Loss To Cowboys
By Shawn Lealos
This week, the New York Giants get a chance at revenge against the Dallas Cowboys, and unfortunately for Dallas, the two teams are headed in opposite directions right now. With Dallas losing games they should have won and the defense looking more like the walking wounded, the Giants have to like their chances for revenge. Here is a look at the New York Giants the second time around.
New York opened the season with a 36-31 loss to Dallas and then went on a six-game losing streak. A lot of people pointed at the Giants, calling them one of the worst teams in the NFL, but the losses don't look quite as bad right now. After losing to Dallas, the Giants lost to the Denver Broncos, the best team in the NFL and then fell to two of the best defenses in the NFL in the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.
New York finally stopped the bleeding after falling to 0-6, and thanks to the fact they play in the NFC East, they are still in position to put themselves into a spot for the playoffs with a win over the Cowboys this week. Despite only winning four games, beating Dallas would put the Giants only one game back from the Philadelphia Eagles.
While Eli Manning is not having a great season, the Giants passing offense still ranks 14th in the NFL. He has only thrown for 2,586 yards and has only 12 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions. His best stats came in the Dallas game, where he threw for 450 yards and four touchdowns, but he also tossed three interceptions. He has only broke 300 passing yards once since then and has only thrown two touchdowns in a game once since then.
However, Manning has that Dallas game to remind him of what he is capable of.
While the Giants rank a low 29th in the NFL in rushing, they have a weapon back that wasn't there last time they played Dallas. Andre Brown made his return two weeks ago and already is the team's leading rusher through only two appearances. In his first game back from a broken leg, he ran for 115 yards and a touchdown. In his second game, he gained 93 combined yards and gives New York a weapon they have not had all season.
That is why they are dangerous against Dallas this week.
Defensively, the Giants rank 11th in the NFL for total defense and seventh against the run. This week, Dallas gets Miles Austin back and hope he can take some pressure off of Dez Bryant, while rookie receiver Terrance Williams will try to make a difference as a third weapon, maybe taking some pressure off of himself in his learning year.
One thing to take into account through the four Dallas wins is that they stopped quarterbacks named Scott Tolzien, Terrelle Pryor, Matt Barkley and Josh Freeman. This week, they get a Tony Romo who threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the win in their first meeting. DeMarco Murray is also back to full strength and carried the ball 20 times for 86 yards in that first game as well.
The Giants will have to play a strong, aggressive defense this week, but their offense is playing so well that this game might be even tougher than the first game where the Giants scored 14 fourth quarter points to make the game a contest.
For more Cowboys news and updates, visit Cowboys Central.
Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos.
Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.
