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Another chapter will be written in one of the great National Football League divisional rivalries, when the Dallas Cowboys head to the Meadowlands of New Jersey to face the New York Giants. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:20am (AEDT).
Both teams have suffered through an uneven 2015 season, but with the NFC East title race still wide open, and destined to be a battleground right through the final week of the regular season, this clash at Met Life Stadium is pivotal.
Both teams must keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles, who lead the division courtesy of their big win over the Giants last Monday.
It was a disappointing outing for Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who had his worst game of the season, tossing two interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown – as part of a team total of four turnovers. In a lacklustre effort by the Giants offence, their defence simply spent too long on the field to be effective, hence the comprehensive 27-7 loss. Twelve penalties and a season-low offensive production of just 247 total yards didn’t help either, of course.
Thankfully, redemption comes quickly, at home, and against another division rival. For Manning, the key is wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. No one knows exactly how healthy the second-year receiver out of Louisiana State is (he’s listed as having a hamstring injury, but will play), but even a slightly hobbled OBJ is going to make plays.
Manning needs to find him early and often – OBJ had 10 catches for 146 yards and two scores in the corresponding game a season ago – and rely on some production from the run game, led by Rashard Jennnings.
Watch for the Giants defence – who’ve created turnovers with regularity this year, including three in their earlier match-up with Dallas – to do some of the same this time around. If they give Manning and the Giants offence a short field, it might be a long day for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have twin problems on offence: the absence of veteran quarterback Tony Romo and star wide receiver Dez Bryant. Romo is on the sidelines recuperating from a broken collarbone sustained in late September, and Brandon Weeden had been filling the spot under centre for the Cowboys, but a poor last start – part of a bad 30-6 loss to New England – has seen Weeden benched in favour of former USC quarterback Matt Cassel.
Meanwhile, Bryant, who barely has to be in the same postcode as the football to make a play, has been downgraded to ‘out’ and will be sorely missed as Cassel aims to become the first Cowboys quarterback not named Tony Romo to win a game since Steven McGee in late 2010. It’s been a long time between drinks for back-up signal callers in Dallas, and an indication of how valuable the oft-maligned Romo is for the Cowboys.
At least the journeyman Cassel will have veteran tight end Jason Witten catching passes. He’s been very good over a long period of time against the Giants, and Cassel needs Witten to be better than ever.
Some key injuries in the Giants secondary might give Cassel a better look at things. His main priority is to protect the football, so expect lots of short throws, especially early as he settles in.
Prediction
This game is a desperation one, and I’ve got a feeling we’ll see a lot of points.
I’m tipping a narrow Giants win, based on home advantage, and because the Cowboys’ offence without Romo and Bryant doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:20am (AEDT).
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