Giants Explode While Cowboys Implode

The Giants face the Cowboys this afternoon for the second time in three games. In the interim, Dallas fired their head coach while the Giants came home from Seattle with a victory for the first time since 1981. While Dallas is imploding, the Giants seem to be exploding. They didn't just beat Seattle, they destroyed them 41-7 - and the score understates the extent of the Giants' domination.

But, I always try to maintain a level of objectivity when assessing the Giants - something that isn't easy to do as a life long fan. And I see some potential rough seas on the horizon, perhaps starting as early as this afternoon. Today the Giants will play without three of last year's four Pro Bowl players - Diehl, O'Hara, and Smith. Worse, it isn't clear when any of the three will return to the starting lineup.

The Giants should clearly win this afternoon's game. Even with the injuries, they are the better team right now. But, the loss of Diehl, O'Hara and Smith clearly puts a chink in their armor and if I'm Dallas, I'm pushing all of my chips into an all out strategy singularly focused on that one crack. Dallas has the horses to bring the heat with Ware, Ratcliff and Spenser, and I would not be surprised if the Dallas strategy is to hit Manning early and often. When the heat is on, Manning, like all quarterbacks, goes to his "automatic" - the guy who runs precise routes and who you can trust to always be where he is supposed to be - Steve Smith. But today, if the Cowboys can pressure Manning, he won't have that guy - and will be less able to throw to a spot under pressure but, instead, will need the extra time to scan the field and locate someone.

Dallas is out of the playoffs and have nothing to play for but pride and job security next year. If the Giants can get up by 14 points early, the Cowboys are likely to fold like a cheap shirt. And if I'm Dallas, I know the only way I win this game is to get my defense into the game early - and I do that by bringing everything but the kitchen sink at Manning from the very opening snap. If that is what they do, the good news for the Giants is their signing of Shawn Andrews, for he will be the key to protecting Manning and giving him the time to strike quick and put a dagger into the collective heart of the Dallas defense.