Both the Cowboys and the Giants have had up-and-down seasons, the Cowboys have blown several games they should have won, and the Giants went through a four game losing streak. For both teams, it all hinges on this game. Winner take all (all being the last NFC playoff spot).
In the previous matchup between the two teams the Cowboys blew a big lead with only five minutes left in the fourth quarter. It was a stunning combination of a Cowboy defense collapse and excellent play by Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Statistically the Cowboys are superior to the Giants in rushing yards, opponent rushing, and opponent passing yards, with the Giants being marginally better in passing yards. These statistics don't have much value however because they haven't translated into many more wins for the Cowboys. What will decide this game is the X factor; what doesn't show up on the stat sheet.
The Giants have been coached for along time by Tom Coughlin. He has a well earned reputation as a stick-in-the-mud, but has also won a Super Bowl and experienced great success. Coughlin's quarterback, Eli Manning, has proven himself multiple times in tight situations, won a Super Bowl, and is having an excellent year. The Cowboys are led by first full year coach Jason Garrett and Tony Romo who, while having a great year, is coming off of a hand injury. These two duos are not equal.
As a lifelong Cowboy fan (following in the footsteps of Dad) my heart says the Cowboys will win, but everything I know about them and everything I know about the Giants says the Giants will win. Coughlin and Manning have proven themselves over and over, this might be Romo and Garrett's time, but until they lead a team to a win in a game like this I'm going to go with the coach and quarterback who have. For the sake of my dad's health however, I hope I'm wrong.
Giants: 31
Cowboys: 27
P.S. It's going to be really close, but the Cowboys defense is going to blow it.
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