Giants-Cowboys Matchup

I gotta say, I don’t like the prevailing winds going into this NFC East battle.  The Cowboys desperately need to win this game against their division rivals, the New York Giants.  They seem, instead, to be coming apart at the seams.  At the center of the drama currently enveloping the team is the fact that wide receiver Terrell Owens feels that Tony Romo is making too many passes to tight end Jason Witten when there are receivers open.  I happen to think that Owens is right, but that doesn’t mean I approve of his method of public airing of the team’s dirty laundry.  I’ve also seen Owens giving up on routes, causing huge missed opportunities.  Today there were reports that T.O. and Witten got into a bit of a mix-up after a team meeting on Friday.  Other team members are discussing their views on the problem, and sides are forming.  The T.O. effect seems to finally be rearing its ugly head.

The Giants, meanwhile, are also in disarray, though to a lesser degree.  Their loss to the Eagles last week, however, seems to me to be related less to the distractions caused by Plaxico Burress and more to a good game plan by Philadelphia. Both the Cowboys and Giants are missing good players due to injury, both teams are coming off of big losses last week, and both teams have their fair share of distractions.  The Cowboys’ official site has a good breakdown of what the ‘Boys will have to do to win this one.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been known to have a few clunkers in his career, but as always, it’s how you respond to adversity that defines you. After games in which Romo has thrown three or more interceptions (last year against Philadelphia and Buffalo), he averages 228 yards passing, more than a touchdown a game and just one interception. So even after Romo’s three-pick, one-fumble performance against the Steelers last Sunday, the Giants should not expect him to be so turnover happy on Sunday.

The Giants finished their last game against the Cowboys with a whopping 30 sacks for the season. But now, five weeks later, that sack pace has slowed. Over the last five games, the Giants have only averaged 1.2 sacks a game, compared to their pace of 3.75 after beating the Cowboys earlier this season. That five-game span includes two zero-sack performances against the Eagles.

Frankly, though, I don’t have a warm fuzzy feeling about the Dallas Cowboys going into this game.  I hope they can pull it together.  The defense last week was excellent, and that same level of play will be required to beat the Giants.  If they can do that, and if the offense can shine like we have seen it do so many times, Dallas will beat the Giants.  It all hinges on trust.  Romo isn’t throwing to Owens as much because he doesn’t trust that Owens can or will go and get the ball the way he did in years past.  If they can work it out (quickly), they can both have big a big game.  There might even be a little left over for Witten.

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