Sun Dec 4, 1:00 pm (FOX) - Dallas at Giants
Closeness.
The Giants and Cowboys are tied for first in the NFC East with identical 7-4 records. Both teams are coming off overtime losses where they were done in by missed field goals. They meet this
Sunday 45 years to the day after their first meeting which ended in a 31-31 tie. Eight of the 11 games between the Giants and Cowboys since 2000 have been
decided by no more than seven points. The last game with Dallas was a close one the Giants lost, even though they were a season worst 1-for-11 on third down
conversion attempts. It's time for some of this closeness to come to an end, and it will for one of them, because a loss here is a big setback in the standings.
Dallas-Giants.
It didn't feel good to watch the Giants lose to Seattle last week, with the game in hand a few times. A win would have put the Giants one up on the Cowboys going into this game, and what would
have been at stake this weekend? The Cowboys would have a shot at tying the Giants putting both teams in first place - boring. Sure Dallas would have the edge for taking both matchups, but
this is way better. Much more is at stake if the Giants can't pull this one off.
A loss gives Dallas a one game lead as well as the division tiebreaker. A win for the Giants gives them a season split with Dallas, the win-loss edge against the NFC (7-3 vs 6-3 ) and against
the Division (3-1 vs 3-2), with only four games left to play. This is excitement to the bone, just the way we Giants fans like it, or at least are used to getting it, like it or not.
Overtime games.
Don't bring up overtime games to Dallas or the Giants. Thanks to former Giant Ron Dayne who scored one touchdown and set up the game-winning field goal with a 55-yard run in overtime, the
Denver Broncos, beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-21, on Thanksgiving Day. The Giants lost their first match to Dallas in overtime, and last week lost another tough one in overtime to Seattle. The
usually reliable Jay Feeley, suddenly lost all his skills at the end of the game last week, three missed field-goal attempts and that did the Giants in.
How about if Tom Coughlin didn't cut kicker Matt Bryant almost as soon as he set eyes on him after taking over the head coaching job? "He's awesome," Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber had said
of Matt. "There's no doubt that we've missed that kind of consistency in the kicking game the past couple years, and he's brought it back.... I think we're seeing him at his best right now."
Well, Matt did about the same thing for the Bucs last Sunday. He had a chance to tie the game with a 29-yard field goal with 2:47 to go and missed it. Tampa Bay went down with a 13-10 loss
to the Chicago Bears.
The past two seasons.
In the past two seasons, the Giants over the second half hold a 1-15 record. The second half games so far, this year, has them at 1-2. The two games they lost, one to the Vikings, and the
other to the Seahawks, were both games they should have won. They had to let Minnesota make NFL history to lose that one, with the Vikings scoring a touchdown on - an interception, a kickoff
return, and a punt return.
In Seattle, the Giants were bewildered by fan noise to the tune of 11 false starts, and their field goal kicker, 23-for-25 up to that point had to blow three field goals in a row to lose that
game. After this upcoming game with Dallas, they play the Eagles, Chiefs, Redskins and Raiders. What do you foresee for the future?
A kinder Coughlin?
"The poor kid didn't even practice," Tom Coughlin said referring to cornerback Curtis Deloatch poor performance after the loss to Seattle. "He went out there, went a half a day and did the
best he could. What? This is the same Tom Coughlin who fined both Frank Walker and Deloatch $10,000 each for fighting with each other, according to ESPN a few weeks ago, and that the players'
union is expected to file a grievance on their behalf.
After Deloatch was beaten on a few plays and was called for pass interference in the Giants' win over the Eagles, Coughlin responded to reporters asking if Deloatch might be demoted, "Have
you played corner in this league? You are going to have games where you have to line up the next snap because somehow, some way everyone gets beat at least some of the time." Is Tom 'no
excuse is a good one' Coughlin actually turning into a more understanding head coach?
Notes.
Cowboys have had a time of possession advantage in every game this season except their second matchup with Philadelphia on Nov. 14.
Cowboys average 34 rushing plays per game and lead the NFL in time of possession.
Giants are the third-most penalized team in the NFL this season.
The Giants, FEDEX and New York Cares will host their 10th annual Coat Drive. Fans are asked to bring their gently worn coats to the game and look for the FEDEX
trucks located at each entrance into the stadium. The coats will be given to New York Cares, a non- profit organization, which will distribute the donated coats to the homeless and less fortunate
throughout New York City.
Next Game.
Dec 11, Giants at Eagles 4:05 PM - FOX.
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