Written by Colin Kennedy
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2012 NFL Regular Season Kickoff:
Dallas Cowboys vs NY Giants Preview
Eli is also the best Manning when it comes to delivering coffee championships
The NFL season officially kicks off with America’s team travels to the Meadowlands to take on the defending Super Bowl Champion and rival New York Giants. On paper these teams are strikingly similar in their strengths and weaknesses with the Giants winning 56.6 percent of simulations. For all intents and purposes there are two matchups that need to be broken down (ignoring special teams): the Giants offense vs. the Cowboys defense and the Cowboys offense vs. the Giants defense.
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The Giants look fairly similar to the 2011 version with very few subtractions. I don’t expect the loss of running back Brandon Jacobs and wide receiver Mario Manningham to factor too much into their season. However, Jacobs did rumble for 101 yards and two TDs and Manningham grabbed a 47 yard TD in the first meeting last year with Dallas in Week 14. The Giants, propelled by Eli Manning’s 400 yard passing performance and Jacobs’ surprise game, scrapped out a 37-34 win in Dallas. New York is replacing Jacobs with rookie David Wilson, and Coach Tom Coughlin hopes receiver Domenik Hixon steps up in Manningham’s absence. The final game of the regular season a year ago was not a close battle as the Giants decisively eliminated the Cowboys from playoff contention with a 31-14 thrashing behind Victor Cruz and his 178 receiving yards.
While the Giants put the Cowboys’ 2011 season to an end, I expect this game to be much closer. Though Dallas has remade parts of their defense, I expect year 2 under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to impact this game significantly and help stabilize Kevin Gilbride’s offense on opening night. Historically, the Giants haven’t really gotten going until mid-season often finding their rhythm in time for a playoff push. Starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw is probable while wideout Hakeem Nicks is questionable. I expect both to play and be key factors in this game. The AccuScore simulation projects Bradshaw to have 75 total yards and almost a touchdown. The same simulation showed Nicks having a nice night (80 yards on 5 receptions), however I wouldn’t be surprised if he explodes for a huge game. Dallas replaced both starting cornerbacks in the offseason, and while corners Brandon Carr and rookie Morris Claiborne are upgrades they can’t double Nicks due to the presence of Victor Cruz (projected to have 75 yards of his own).
This, ladies, is what a 2-time Super Bowl Winning QB looks like
The Cowboys spent the offseason rebuilding their team in an effort to compete against the Giants. The Cowboys rebuilt their offensive line in the hopes of giving more protection to quarterback Tony Romo specifically against the vaunted Giants D-line. Owner/GM Jerry Jones released both starting guards and added RG Mackenzy Bernadeau and LG Nate Livings in free agency, while former right tackle Tyron Smith switched spots with Doug Free. Even with these adjustments, I don’t expect Jason Garrett to be able to stop Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora. For Romo’s sake, his line better hope to contain them.
Romo was playing good golf until the playoffs came around...
In four career games against the Giants, receiver Dez Bryant has amassed at least 70 yards or had a touchdown receiving. In both games against the Giants in 2011, Romo put up great numbers (321 yards/4 TDs & 289/2), but all his teammates were inconsistent as production was scattered. In week 14, backup running back Felix Jones exploded for over 100 yards rushing, but the team (minus starting running back Demarco Murray) only had 49 total yards rushing in that week 17 blowout.
The AccuScore simulation shows Romo maintaining good numbers (98 QB rating, almost 260 yards passing and two TDs), but I expect more with the banged up Giants secondary. Starting Giants corner Terrell Thomas is done for the year, and 2011 1st round pick Prince Amukamara is also out with a high ankle sprain. Corey Webster should blanket Bryant and limit his production, but someone is going to have to cover Miles Austin. Tight end Jason Witten has yet to practice and will probably be inactive for the game giving Romo one fewer option. Maybe Dwayne Harris will show why he won the WR3 position in Dallas and match his offseason hype. The Cowboys should look to run more as Murray is healthy and the improved offensive line are strong run blockers.
This should be a great game and both offense vs. defense match-ups should be interesting. The key for Dallas is to keep the Giants defensive line at bay giving Romo enough time to make good decisions. Garrett should attempt to pound the run and try to get Murray more than his projected 61 yards on the ground, and perhaps Jones can repeat some of his week 14 heroics.
Meanwhile, the Giants have the ability to put the game out of reach fairly quickly like week 17 of last year. They need to exploit the lack of chemistry on the Cowboys’ O-line and attack their new cornerbacks with Hicks, Cruz and former Cowboy tight end Martellus Bennett. If I had to put a number on this game, I’d say the Giants win 33-27 and establish an early lead in the tightly contested NFC East.
