TEAMS
Dallas Cowboys (5-3) at New York Giants (6-1)

GAME INFO
November 2, 2008
Time: 4:15
TV: Fox
Surface: Field Turf – Giants Stadium
Weather: More sun than clouds. Cool. 55° F. 6mph wind

SPREAD
N.T Giants (-9)  Under/Over 41 Points

TEAM STANDINGS
The Dallas Cowboys are in jeopardy of falling out of the NFC East playoff race with half the season to go. They trail the New York Giants (6-1) and Washington Redskins (6-2). The Philadelphia Eagles are right behind them at 4-3.

The New York Giants, on the other hand, have reeled off two consecutive wins and are in first place in the NFC East.

MOMENTUM
The Dallas Cowboys started the season strong, winning their first 3 games. Since then, they are 2-3. The Cowboys are 2-2 on the road and 3-3 against NFC teams. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Home last week by a score of 13-9. The Cowboys are averaging a little over 25 points a game while giving up, on average, 24 points a game.

The New York Giants are 4-0 at home and 4-0 against NFC teams. They have won 2 straight going into Sunday’s game.  They have won two in a row, are 4-0 at home, and 1-2 on the road.  They are averaging 27 points a game while giving up only 16.  In the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game they held the Pittsburgh Steelers to -18 yards total offense – just an outstanding feat, considering the Steelers offense is led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

KEY INJURIES
Cowboys: OG Kyle Kosier (foot sprain), RB Felix Jones (hamstring), CB Terence Newman (sports hernia) and QB Tony Romo (broken right pinkie) are out; TE Jason Witten (broken rib) said he wants to find a way to play if possible. Giants: OLB Gerris Wilkinson (knee) is out.

KEYS TO THE GAME
According to NFl.com, QB Brad Johnson will start, but if he struggles early the Cowboys won’t hesitate to turn to Brooks Bollinger, who took practice snaps with the first team this week. The 40-year-old Johnson lacks arm strength and mobility, making it difficult for him to get out of the way of the Giants’ ferocious pass rush or hurt New York vertically. Either quarterback will need a massive game from RB Marion Barber to alleviate the pressure. … If CB Anthony Henry isn’t ready to play, the Cowboys will start a pair of rookies in Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. Even when healthy, Dallas would have a difficult time matching up with all of the Giants’ options downfield, so the Cowboys desperately need an effective pass rush. Giants QB Eli Manning is still prone to critical errors when forced to unload the ball before he wants to.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the 92nd regular-season meeting between the two. The Cowboys lead the series 54-35-2. The Cowboys won the two regular-season games last year, but the Giants beat the Cowboys in the playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl title. A Cowboys win would be their fourth straight regular-season win against the Giants.

PICK PREDICTION

Giants 27-13
Take the Giants even though they are giving nine points to the ‘Boys.

• The Giants defense is just too good
• Brad Johnson lack of mobility
• Giants are playing at home
• The weather will not hamper Eli Manning