The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants may be part of the most disappointing division in football, but each has a good chance at the playoffs with the regular season winding down.
This will be the Sunday night game on NBC at 8:20 p.m. (ET) from Cowboys Stadium. Dallas opened as 5 ½-point favorites, but it’s quickly moved down to 3-3 ½ on the Don Best odds screen. The total is 49 points.
The NFC East looked promising before the season. Philadelphia was the Super Bowl co-favorite with Green Bay and New England after its free agency bonanza including Nnamdi Asomugha. Dallas and the Giants were farther down the list, but still considered solid playoff contenders.
The Eagles have ‘crashed and burned’ at 4-8 straight up, while Dallas leads the division at just 7-5 SU (4-7-1 against the spread) and the Giants a game behind at 6-6 SU (5-6-1 ATS). The good news is one team is guaranteed a playoff spot.
The Cowboys blew a golden opportunity last week with a 19-13 overtime loss at Arizona. That was as 4-point favorites and they’re now 0-3 ATS in their last three and 1-5 ATS the last six. Dallas was very fortunate to win its prior two games versus Miami (20-19) and Washington (27-24 OT).
Coach Jason Garrett is receiving major criticism for poor clock management last week. Dallas was on Arizona’s 31-yard line with 26 seconds left in regulation. He inexplicably didn’t run another play and then ‘iced’ his own kicker by calling a timeout right before Dan Bailey hit the presumed game-winning field goal. It didn’t count and the rookie missed the second one before the Cards won in overtime.
Garrett can take a lot of pressure off himself with a win Sunday. That would put the Cowboys two games up over the Giants with three to play, plus get them in good shape with the tiebreakers. The teams meet the final week of the season in the Big Apple, but it would still be very hard for the G-Men to catch them.
Dallas’ offense ranks seventh in the NFL in yards (385.6 YPG), but is just 13th in points (23.6 PPG). It advanced into Arizona territory eight times last week and only came away with the 13 points.
Receiver Miles Austin (hamstring) could return after missing four games and he’s another weapon in the passing attack. Rookie running back DeMarco Murray has slowed down some after rushing for 601 yards in a 4-game stretch beginning late October, but presents a very good duo with Felix Jones.
The Giants have lost four straight (1-3 ATS) since their great 24-20 win at New England on November 6. However, a victory remarkably puts them back in the driver’s seat in winning the division.
Coach Tom Coughlin hasn’t gotten many breaks with an absolutely brutal schedule. The last five games have included road tilts at New England, San Francisco and New Orleans, plus a visit from undefeated Green Bay last week.
New York lost to the Packers 38-35, but did cover as 7-point ‘dogs. Some felt it was a moral victory in almost pulling off the upset, although certainly not Coughlin. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers torched the secondary for 369 passing yards and four TDs a week after Drew Brees threw for 363 yards and four scores.
Running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) returned last week after missing four games. He rushed for just 38 yards on 11 carries, but is needed as a compliment to Brandon Jacobs. Eli Manning is fourth in the NFL in passing yards (3,705), but has at least one pick in the last five games.
Both quarterbacks should move the ball this week. Manning’s job will be much easier if Dallas pass rusher DeMarcus Ware (neck) is limited. New York is trying to overcome injuries to center David Baas (questionable, headache) and offensive tackle Stacy Andrews (doubtful, lung). Receiver Mario Manningham (knee) is also questionable.
Tony Romo has just three picks the last seven games, but two came against Miami and he’s always capable of an awful performance. He won’t have to worry about Giants’ starting safety Kenny Phillips (knee), who is a big loss.
New York is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games as a road underdog of 3-points or less. Dallas is 3-13-1 ATS in its last 17 games as a favorite.
Dallas won the last meeting between the teams, 33-20 in New York last November. The Giants have won the last two years in Big D (41-35, 33-31), both times around field goal ‘dogs. The ‘over’ is 4-0 in the last four.
Weather is expected to be in the 40s, which means the retractable roof should be closed.