Sun Oct 10, 1:00 pm (FOX) - Giants at Dallas
Giants at Dallas.
The Giants take their three game win streak to Dallas where a well rested Cowboys team is anxious to take the field. During their forced week off, Bill Parcells
got to see two division rival teams, the Giants and Eagles, chalk up wins while his team and starting quarterback Vinny Testaverde sat around and grew one week older.
Sure Kurt Warner aged one week as well, but so did his back up Eli Manning who will one day reach NFL quarterback starting age. Don't expect to see young Eli in this game. It would take one
heck of a lead to see him drop his clipboard shaped rattle, climb out of his playpen and onto the field. Everyone remembers Jim Fassel leading the Giants in week two a year ago, blowing the
3 point lead in the final 11 seconds, and losing in overtime to a smart (but aging well) Bill Parcells. Tom Coughlin, a former wide receivers coach with the Giants under Parcells, will have
none of that.
Aging Quarterbacks - like fine wine.
Last week Giants fans got to see Brett Favre (age 35) in action, and even Tiki Barber said he had to resist the sudden fan-like urge to cheer when he saw
Favre, on 4th down and 5, jump onto the field like a player possessed to toss that incredible 28 yard touchdown pass. Kurt Warner (age 33) has completed 77 of 114 passes (67.5 percent) for
908 yards and 2 touchdowns with just 1 interception. Warner looks comfortable leading the offense, and is doing well in his role.
Vinny Testaverde (age 40) has 66 completions in 114 attempts for 891 yards (57.9 percent) with 3 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. Vinny has done very well, hanging in the pocket, making
blitzing defenses pay while ignoring all the pressure, looking for Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Anotnio Bryant and Jason Witten. The Cowboys offense has provided Vinny with good protection,
only 3 sacks in 3 games against them, which has helped Vinny throw for over 300 yards in two of those games. Last year both Kurt Warner and Vinny Testaverde, began the season as starters but
finished as backups. They are off to much better starts this year.
Cowboys on offense.
Pass. Pass. Pass The Cowboys total of 904 net yards passing is the most they have had through the first three games of the season in team history, and after
three games the Cowboys are ranked 2nd in the league throwing the ball and 28th running the ball. Running back Eddie George's 2.9-yard average is next to last in the league for starters. That
doesn't sound like a Bill Parcells coached team, and when you ask him about it, he says,"I saw a team win a Super Bowl last year, not running the ball at all. What did they run it, 90,
80 yards a game? I don't think it is a requirement."
What??
One former Cowboy running back commented on this, "I promise you, and you can quote me on this" says Tony Dorsett who will be at the game this Sunday, "cause it is a fact, you won't see too
many teams winning Super Bowls, being one dimensional, I promise you that!"
What does Emmitt Smith think? Well, we couldn't catch up with him (pardon the pun). Last week Emmitt was too busy completing the first pass of his career for a 21-yard touchdown, but don't
let that sway you Bill Parcells. He kept it balanced and did not neglect his running game. Emmitt recorded his first 100-yard game (127 yards on 21 carries), No. 77, to tie Walter Payton's
NFL record. It was his first 100-yard game since Thanksgiving 2002, when he did it for Dallas against Washington.
Cowboys passing.
As we said above, the Cowboys have a good passing game, and their offensive line has held up well. Their test this week will be having undrafted free agent, second-year right tackle Torrin
Tucker with just 4 career starts, line up against Michael Strahan. Strahan has 161 career starts and 117 career sacks, including 52 the past three years. The Giants have also been mixing up
their pass rush this season. Tucker will get blocking help as usual, but no longer from former Giants tight end Dan Campbell who was placed on injured reserve last week. Jason Witten, more
of a receiving tight end, is in line to replace him.
Anyway, if the Cowboys can't get their own running game going, they'll probably rely on their defense to keep things close and hope for some big plays in the air, since only one team (Green
Bay) has given up more touchdowns defensively than the Giants this season who have allowed eight.
Dallas on Defense.
The Cowboys know they have to stop the run and Tiki Barber. Thanks to Tiki and the running game, Kurt Warner has been effective in the air while still being sacked 12 times in 4 games. Eli
Manning was sacked once in his one brief outing, so the Giants rank next to last with 13 against. Don't think the Cowboy defense hasn't noticed this little fact and they will try to pressure
the Giants offensive line which has held up, but is still working things out. The Cowboys rushing defense is 122.0 ypg (20th), and passing defense is 211.7 ypg (17th).
Ring of Honor.
Rayfield Wright will become the first offensive lineman to be inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Eight of the nine living members are scheduled to be part of the ceremony - Bob Lilly,
Don Perkins, Chuck Howley, Mel Renfro, Roger Staubach, Lee Roy Jordan, Tony Dorsett and Randy White. Missing will be Don Meredith, who has remained out of the limelight since the conclusion
of his playing and broadcasting careers, and no longer living: Tex Schramm, Tom Landry and Bob Hayes.
Notes.
Cowboys with Bill Parcells hold a 6-1 record against the rest of the division, 3-0 at home.
Cowboys with Bill Parcells hold a 2-0 record against the Giants.
Cowboys with Bill Parcells have held Tiki Barber to just 88 yards on 28 carries in their two games.
Tiki Barber last week ran for 182 yards on 23 carries.
Tiki Barber ranks second in the league in rushing with 455 yards averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
Cowboys Terry Glenn has 14 catches for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns after three games.
Giants lead the league with 13 takeaways, with 7 interceptions and with a turnover margin of plus-10.
Cowboys have 3 takeaways, all interceptions with a turnover margin of minus-3.
Giants have lost 10 of the last 13 visits to Texas Stadium.
Next Game
After the bye week - Detroit at Giants - Oct 24 at 1PM.
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