GIants Win 3rd Straight, Face Cowboys in Dallas

The Giants dispatched a vastly improved Detroit Lions last Sunday in very workmanlike fashion. It wasn't pretty, but they won the turnover battle and kept penalties to a minimum while Detroit shot themselves in the foot with huge penalties are key times in the game. For the third straight game in a row the Giants eliminated their opponent's run game and thereby freeing the defensive line to pin their ears back and fly to the QB. It is a pattern the Giants must duplicate in tomorrow's Monday Night match up against the Cowboys.

The media and pundits all insist Dallas is the best 1-4 team in recent memory. That Dallas has the best talent in the NFC. Amazingly many still believe the Boyz have a flicker of hope to complete the home field Super Bowl dream Jerry Jones set up by building a new stadium and following that up with the highest team salary in all the NFL. Dallas may win Monday Night but they won't be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. Sorry Jerry, but that dream you purchased is already buried in the ashes of Wade Phillips' 1-4 start.

For the Giants, meanwhile, Monday night is the first of six inter-divisional games they play over the last ten games of the season. In their current position, maintaining their momentum with a solid performance is more important than the win itself. Of course, a solid performance should produce a win because the Giants are simply the better team on defense and offense - but special teams could be the difference maker should the Giants stumble. Based upon their performance thus far in 2010, the Giants run defense can be expected to shut down Felix Jones and Marion Barber. When they do, the Giants pass defense features a rejuvenated pass rush that will have Romo scrambling to make plays against a vastly improved secondary over 2009's edition. The Achilles heel remains linebacker and the Cowboys will almost certainly test the Giants with their tight ends.

When the Giants have the ball, the key is going to be the offensive line. Diehl and McKenzie are going to have their hands full and they've both struggled with speed rushers. Watch for the Giants to slow that speed with dumps to Bradshaw, Beckham, and Pascoe. The down field passing game is likely to be hindered with the injury to Hakeem Nicks regardless if he plays. With Nicks not a factor, Manningham is going to have to step up and make some big plays.

At the end of the day, the key to the game is going to be the same as last week - winning the turnover battle. Equally important in this game will be penalties. Dallas has been horrific when it comes to penalties and the Giants have to take advantage by playing a penalty free game. And, last by not least, the Giants cannot allow Bryant to have a big day on returns. If they play penalty free football with no turnovers and corral Bryant, the rest of the Giants game should be sufficient to produce a win in enemy territory.