Sizing up Sundays game between the Dallas Cowboys (8-7) and New York Giants (8-7) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
There are no bragging rights in the NFC East this season. The once-proud division was so pitifully weak in 2011 that no one will brag about finishing first, but someone will, and the rules say that team will advance to the playoffs, so this game has meaning.
The winner of this game claims the division title and earns a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Maybe that team will get hot and, well, who knows? People laughed last season when Seattle won the NFC West with a 7-9 mark, but the Seahawks upset New Orleans, the defending Super Bowl champ, in the wild-card round, so strange things have been known to happen.
First, you have to get in the tournament and thats what the Giants and Cowboys will be trying to do in Sundays prime-time showdown.
The Cowboys chances depend on the health of quarterback Tony Romo and running back Felix Jones. They were lifted early in last weeks loss to the Eagles: Romo with a bruised right hand and Jones with a tender hamstring. Both are expected to start Sunday against the Giants.
Dont look for a lot of defense. When these teams met three weeks ago, the Giants pulled out a 37-34 win as quarterback Eli Manning led two long touchdown drives in the final four minutes. Manning and Romo combined to pass for 721 yards and six touchdowns in the game.
Neither team comes into the game with much momentum. The Cowboys have lost three of their last four games. Their only victory was against a Tampa Bay team that packed it in two months ago. The Giants have won just two of their last seven games, but they are coming off a 29-14 victory over the New York Jets.
NFL
In that game the Giants defense, which underperformed most of the year, came up with a strong effort, recording five sacks of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, seven tackles for losses and two interceptions. The Jets converted just four of 21 third downs in the loss.
This game will be played on the Giants home field, but that doesnt mean the Giants have an advantage. Indeed, the evidence suggests there is no advantage at all.
Prior to last weeks gamewhich technically was a Jets home gamethe Giants had lost three straight at MetLife Stadium. They lost to Washington (23-10), Green Bay (38-35) and the Eagles (17-10). Earlier in the season, they lost at home to Seattle, 36-25, and barely scraped past Miami, 20-17. One theory is the Giants relax at home and play with less intensity. Coach Tom Coughlin doesnt buy it.
I dont know why there would be a tendency to relax, Coughlin said at his weekly press conference. It makes no sense to me. Youve got outstanding people coming in to play against you. You should be able to turn everything to your advantage.
We let a few games slip away, wide receiver Victor Cruz told the New York Daily News. Its a little frustrating. I dont really have an answer for it. Its just one of those weird things that happen throughout the course of a season.
Defensive captain Justin Tuck agrees the pattern of home losses is disturbing, but this week he thinks the combination of the high stakes and the fact that it is the Cowboys coming to town will create a wave of positive energy for the Giants.
I know our crowd is going to come out fired up for this game, Tuck told the Daily News. I know our fans hate the Cowboys as much as I do.
E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net.