NFL Week 15: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

The Dallas Cowboys fight for a playoff berth while the NY Giants try and lock up home-field advantage.

Cowboys vs. Giants Overview:
The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are both coming off of devastating losses as they hit the home stretch in the playoff race. The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers for a half before getting pounded by the best defense in football. The New York Giants hit a wall against the Philadelphia Eagles and were never able to recover. The New York Giants are the champs of the NFC East however, and at 12-2 they are one of the best teams in football. Fans with Dallas Cowboys tickets hope their team can follow the Philadelphia Eagles’ game plan to victory.

Dallas Cowboys Offense:
Dallas Cowboys tickets boast a Dallas Cowboys offense that has loads of potential with QB Tony Romo under center, and they hope to get back bruising RB Marion Barber. Rookie RB Tashard Choice filled in well however and can carry the load if asked. WRs Terrell Owens and Roy Williams can both stretch the field or go over the middle and combine with great TE Jason Witten to make a passing attack that is able to run any route and attack any position on the field. Fans with Dallas Cowboys tickets have grown to respect the offensive line, which is one of the biggest O-line groups in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys Defense:
The 3-4 defense of the Dallas Cowboys has steadily improved since Wade Phillips took personal control, and they are now No. 9 in total defense. OLB DeMarcus Ware has put up 16 sacks on the season and only continues his reign of terror on the QBs of the NFL. NT Jay Ratliff not only stuffs the run but also gets plenty of sacks himself, a rarity for the position. Dallas Cowboys tickets features ILB Bradie James, who is having a Pro Bowl year and is the captain of the defensive unit. CB Terrence Newman is joined by fellow DBs Pacman Jones, Anthony Henry, and Ken Hamlin to make one of the best secondaries in football.

New York Giants Offense:
With over 2,000 yards on the ground, the New York Giants lead the NFL in rushing and love to throttle opponents with their great offensive line and trio of running backs. Brandon Jacobs is the leader in the backfield with 1,000 yards on the ground but is nursing an injury. RB Derrick Ward may not have tree trunks for legs like Brandon Jacobs, but he can make people miss and excels at getting the yards needed. QB Eli Manning usually only has to manage games thanks to his runners, but fans with New York Giants tickets know the younger Manning is clutch on third down.

New York Giants Defense:
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has turned the New York Giants into one of the fiercest pass-defense teams in the NFL, and much of this is thanks to the flurry of stunts that his defensive linemen run. DE Justin Tuck leads the team with 12.5 sacks and can play any position on the defensive line to get a favorable matchup. Safeties Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips are quickly winning the hearts of fans with New York Giants tickets thanks to their spectacular play on the deep ball. MLB Antonio Pierce plays the stunts perfectly and is great against the run.

Dallas Cowboys Keys to Victory:
The health of Marion Barber will be a big factor in the Dallas Cowboys’ game plan. If they have Marion “The Barbarian,” then the Dallas Cowboys will pound the rock down the throat of the New York Giants. Even if Tashard Choice starts, the Dallas Cowboys must run the football. The wide-open offense of the Dallas Cowboys proved to be ineffective against the pass rush of the New York Giants in their first meeting, but a strategy of ball control and efficient, safe, passes will be the key to beating the New York Giants. Tony Romo must be careful with the football.

The Dallas Cowboys defense is shooting up the ranks of the NFL, and they could jump a few more spots with a good game. Tied for first in the NFL in sacks, the Dallas Cowboys must continue the stream of unpredictable blitzes and overloads from their 3-4 defense. The lack of a true go-to receiver on the New York Giants means they can go with man coverage on the outside and focus on crowding the box or blitzing instead of using a lot of zone or double coverage. Fans with Dallas Cowboys tickets will do their part by filling Eli Manning’s ears with a deafening roar.

New York Giants Keys to Victory:
The loss to the Philadelphia Eagles proves that a WR needs to step up to take the place of Plaxico Burress. The lack of a No. 1 WR means that the Dallas Cowboys will focus on stopping the running game. If Brandon Jacobs cannot go due to injury, it will be up to speed backs Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to carry the load. It will fall to Eli Manning to adjust to this new game plan, and he needs to show poise in the pocket while keeping an eye on DeMarcus Ware. With the excellent CBs on the field, TE Kevin Boss needs to have a big game to help out his team.

The Dallas Cowboys will focus on the run after their disastrous outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New York Giants must be ready for it. The New York Giants will probably dial their stunts back to focus more on pinching in at the line to hold their gaps; MLB Antonio Piece will earn the C on his jersey. In passing situations, the secondary must jam their men at the line to prevent the quick throws Tony Romo will make against pressure. The Dallas Cowboys love to attack the middle of the field so the safety play of the New York Giants will be key

Dallas Cowboys v. NY Giants Outlook:
The New York Giants have not faced Tony Romo yet this season, and fans with Dallas Cowboys tickets will pack Texas Stadium to see how No. 9 takes on the cornucopia of looks that the New York Giants will throw at him. The injuries to Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs could both lead to drastic changes in game plans for both teams. The quarterbacks for each team will also be constantly under the gun, and a few sacks should be notched on the holsters of the defenses. Fans with Dallas Cowboys tickets will certainly hope their tricky 3-4 wins over the proud 4-3.

Fans with New York Giants tickets had a good laugh after the 35-14 victory in Week 9, but with a clean slate the teams are remarkably even in talent, regardless of record. The Dallas Cowboys do have an advantage in that they can pass to win games if their running comes up short, where as the New York Giants have struggled without Plaxico Burress. In front of thousands of fans with Dallas Cowboys tickets, there is no way that the Dallas Cowboys let the New York Giants off the hook in their last trip to Texas Stadium.