Cowboys at Giants Recap

Walker Minot

So, the Giants, led by Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin, come through again, and the Cowboys stumble anew. Two statements can describe why the Giants won: one, no matter how good your second half defense is, if you give up 21 points to an excellent team in the first half you're probably going to lose, and two, Victor Cruz is a star.

Those two things, plus a slow start by injured Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, propelled the Giants to the victory and an NFC East championship. As I worried about in the preview, the Giants came out lit up and the Cowboys came out flat. Their defense had no answer to the Giants offense, and, despite finishing with a very good stat line, Romo had a tough time initially (understandable, as he had not taken a snap in a week). Giant coach Tom Coughlin had his team 100 percent ready to win, and Cowboy coach Jason Garrett did not match up. In the first quarter Cowboy cornerback Terrence Newman missed a key tackle that should have ended the drive, and later Victor Cruz had a 74 yard touchdown catch (again after a missed tackle by Newman). The second quarter also belonged to the Giants, with two more touchdowns put on the board and an intimidating 21 point lead going into the locker rooms at half.

The second half however was a different story. The Cowboy defense was ready to play, giving up no points in the third quarter. The offense put up a touchdown on good passing by Romo. Hope was kindled in Cowboy hearts. The defense was getting down to business and Romo was in a good rhythm, his hand appearing to be unbothered. The third quarter ended with the Cowboys down 21-7, but the momentum on their side.

The fourth quarter saw another Cowboy touchdown, putting real fear in Giants' fans. The Cowboys' five giveaway losses have been well documented this year, but less well documented was the fact that they won four games in which they trailed going into the fourth quarter. It appeared as though the Cowboys could be on their way to a fifth comeback win. Eli Manning and Victor Cruz however would have none of this. The Giants had made a field goal to stretch the lead to 10 points, the Cowboys were still very much in the game, but they needed another stop. On a 3rd down and seven play Manning scrambled, barely avoiding the sack, and managed to find a well covered Cruz, who made a spectacular catch against his body, 40 yards downfield for a huge first down. Later in the drive Manning connected with Cruz to give the Giants a first down and goal, before finishing it off with a four yard TD pass to UNC alum Hakeem Nicks.

This effectively ended the game. One spectacular play from a veteran QB to a young wide receiver almost cut by the Giants earlier this year.

This game provided a decent synopsis of the Cowboys' season, the initial hope, disappointment, more torturously lingering hope, but finally: anguishing defeat. They had so many chances to make the playoffs, but ultimately they couldn't come through. There was some important element missing, something the Giants had but the Cowboys lacked. Garrett, Romo and crew will spend another offseason searching for it.

For the Giants, the two best players of today's game were their two best players of the season. Eli Manning, who's had the best year of his career, and Victor Cruz, who set the Giant's single season record for receiving yards. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs and I wouldn't be surprised if they went far. The core group of their team has won a Super Bowl, and many elements (QB, RBs, wideouts, and defensive line) look very strong. Watch out for the Giants.

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Walker Minot

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.

'Twas the Afternoon Before Christmas (Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys Preview)

Walker Minot

This Sunday is Christmas (obviously). Only a Bears-Packers game is holy enough for such a day, so for this week the normal onslaught of NFL games has been moved to Saturday. One such game is a 4:15 ET NFC East showdown in Dallas between two fierce rivals: the 8-6 Dallas Cowboys and the 6-8 Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys have enjoyed a season that is typical of their work the last six years. They are a team with great talent, but for a variety of reasons they have not been able to put it together into a consistent string of wins throughout the season and the playoffs. Steadiness and continuity have been lacking. This year five of Dallas' six losses were by six points or less. The much maligned Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo blew two games against the New York Jets and Detroit Lions with crucial interceptions, and the defense/special teams blew games against the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and last week against the New York Giants with opposing teams putting together game-winning drives, and the field goal unit botching kicks.

Despite all this, the Cowboys have an excellent chance at making the playoffs. They are currently leading the NFC East and their fate is in their hands with this game against the Eagles, and the regular season finale against the Giants. If the Cowboys make the playoffs they will have earned it, but if they don't, they will have thoroughly blown it.

The Philadelphia Eagles have experienced a season similar in its lack of consistency, but much worse in its potential outcome. Predicted by many to be the 2012 Super Bowl champions, they have felt the sting of fanatical Philly fan criticism and a satirical skewering by The Onion. Barring an incredible finish, they are out of playoff contention and their beautifully moustached coach, Andy Reid, is in trouble. On the field the Eagles are having a Cowboyish season. They have incredible talent at many positions, but have lacked consistency and focus. The most tantalizing game of the year was the 34-7 beatdown they gave the Cowboys in Week 8 (the only Cowboy loss this season by over six points). Anyone who watched that game was lucky enough to have seen football at its finest; the Eagles were firing on all cylinders. Michael Vick was a fantasy owners' dream, LeSean McCoy found holes with every run, and the defense stuffed the Cowboys absolutely. Playing like they did on that night, the Eagles could have beaten anyone in the league.

The fact is, the Eagles have not played like that all year, if they had they would be still be the favorite to win it all. Vick has had painful rib injuries, causing him to miss games and making him noticeably slower than previous years. The team has not been able to put all their talent together, and at this point, it is most likely too late.

Despite Tony Romo's failings, he is a good quarterback. He holds the Cowboys single season record for passing yards in a season, and is having a career year. His passer rating this season sits at 102.6, fourth behind such Super Bowl QBs as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady. Romo also has skilled receivers Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson, and tight end Jason Witten to throw to. The Eagles defense will not be able to stand up, on the road, to this offense gunning for a playoff spot. When the Cowboys have lost this season, almost always it has been due to lapses in the secondary. The Eagles' offensive style trends more towards the ground (the Cowboys' strength) and is less suited to exploit the Cowboys' secondary weaknesses via the pass. QB Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy will come out hard, but the Cowboys have a good run defense that will prevent them from getting too far running the ball.

Both teams will score plenty of points, but the Cowboys' offense, even without starting running back DeMarco Murray and possibly backup Felix Jones, is better. Vick will be chased around by an angry DeMarcus Ware (whose two penalties helped blow last weeks' game), and McCoy will be contained by a defense determined to make up for the embarrassment of the last Cowboy-Eagle game.

Cowboys: 34

Eagles: 24