Giants @ Dallas - Preview

Finally, a game that isn't "must win". Sure, a win Monday night would mean so much to these Giants. It would put them on a 3 game winning streak heading into a 3 game home stretch. More importantly, they would be 3-0 in the Division with victories against Philly, Washington and Dallas - clearly putting them in the driver's seat.

But, for me - in this game - on Monday night - in Dallas - how they play is more important than what the scoreboard reads at the end of the night. It is crucial that they demonstrate to themselves that the team that showed up against the Eagles and Seattle has been permanently put to rest.

Although Dallas is clearly a good team, the Giants can win this game. So far this season Dallas has wins against Washington (2-3), TN (1-5), and Houston (1-4), but lost both games against teams with winning records - Jacksonville (3-2) and Philly (4-2).

Dallas has three great receivers in TO, Glenn, and Witten, but can Bledsoe get them the ball without giving up too many sacks and interceptions? As usual, the answer will be determined by the interior line play and whether the Giants keep Bledsoe under constant pressure. Based upon their performance the past two weeks, I like the Giants to win that matchup.

On the other side of the ball, it should be no surprise that Parcells is building a great 3-4 defense. They have a very strong front seven and Demarcus Ware, whom I believe is the closest thing to LT of any young player I've seen in many years, is really coming into his own in his 2nd year. The Giants will need a good mix between play and pass on 1st and 2nd downs to keep Dallas guessing. If the offensive line protects Eli, I look for the Giants' receivers to have a big game Monday night. I think Plaxico is personally motivated to show up TO and I think Shockey, if he plays with the same aggressiveness we saw last week, could be a huge factor. I like the Giants to win this matchup too. The Giants can beat you on the ground - as Tiki demonstrated last week - or in the air. They simply have too many offensive weapons for Dallas to control.

This should be a close hard fought game. It is a Divisional home game for Dallas, and they have much more at stake. It is also Monday night and, for whatever reason, the Giants historically have found ways to disappoint in prime time. That was not true, however, on a Monday night in November, 1986 in San Fransisco when the Giants, down 17-0 at the half, came out and crushed the 49ers after an unbelievably great play by a TE by the name of Bavaro stirred the entire team. Shockey is cut from the same mold (at least on the field) and is equally capable of generating the type of play that arouses the emotions and solidifies a team into a winner - just like Bavaro did for the Giants 20 years ago.