ESPN Insider - Is the third time going to be a charm for New York? Options

[Gregg]

Why To Watch

The Cowboys have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They rested some key players in Week 17 and had last week to watch the first round of the playoffs from the comfort of their living rooms, while the Giants defeated Tampa Bay in the early game on Sunday. This will be the third meeting of the season between these NFC East rivals, with Dallas winning in both Week 1 and Week 10 by a combined 21 points. The Cowboys failed to score a touchdown in two of their last three games, but they should have WRs Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens and C Andre Gurode back for this matchup. Dallas clearly has one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses when healthy. Wade Phillips is 0-3 in the playoffs as a head coach, and though Dallas lost only three games during the regular season, two of those defeats came at home. Meanwhile, the Giants have just one road loss -- at Dallas -- and are very comfortable in someone else's building. These teams know one another extremely well, and with a berth in the NFC Championship Game on the line, won't hold anything back.

When the Giants have the ball

Rushing: The Giants put together long, sustained drives when playing with the lead last week, consistently eating up clock and scoring points. QB Eli Manning had a great deal to do with that success, but so did New York's running game. The Giants won the time of possession battle against Dallas in both of their previous meetings, which again should be a goal in order to keep the Cowboys' offense on the sideline. RB Brandon Jacobs was largely ineffective last week, but RB Ahmad Bradshaw provided a spark. Jacobs is a massive pounder who is very difficult to get on the ground. He likes to run off-tackle and will work downhill toward Dallas' outside linebackers in addition to pounding the middle of the field. Bradshaw is a smaller back, but he runs with great conviction while providing big-play ability in New York's zone rushing attack. The Giants often line up in the I-formation and don't hesitate to run against eight-man fronts. Their excellent run-blocking offensive line is a mobile group that can get to the second level and finish blocks. FB Madison Hedgecock is the run game's unsung hero and a big, mobile lead blocker who can bury linebackers. The Cowboys' underrated front three form the foundation of a solid run defense: NT Jay Ratliff lacks the prototypical body for the position but is tough and technically sound and has been more than capable, while the defensive ends have ideal builds and athleticism for an odd-man front and are continually improving. The outside linebackers are known for their pass-rushing prowess, but both starters are exceptional against the run as well. ILB Bradie James is constantly around the ball, diagnoses plays quickly and is a fundamental tackler. And it's no secret that SS Roy Williams is a better player near the line of scrimmage than he is in deep coverage. He should spend plenty of time in the box this week.

Passing:

It might be too early to say that Manning has come into his own, but he played very well in the Giants' opening-round victory and nearly pulled off the upset against New England in the final week of the regular season. Manning has shown great poise, improved accuracy and a dedication to protecting the ball. His improved play has brought balance to New York's offense and given coordinator Kevin Gilbride a deeper bag of options. The Giants will attack the Cowboys on all levels: shallow crossing routes, intermediate outs, passes to the tight end over the middle and deep routes to WR Plaxico Burress, who is playing at a very high level. Adept at catching fade routes and using his tremendous size to go over smaller defenders, Burress clearly is Manning's first option near the end zone. WR Amani Toomer is aging but is Manning's most trusted receiver -- a security blanket and a frequent third-down target. Even without TE Jeremy Shockey (leg), the Giants continue to get production from their tight ends, namely rookie Kevin Boss.

Dallas has an exceptional pair of cornerbacks in Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, though the depth behind them is questionable and CB Jacques Reeves is consistently singled out by opponents in coverage. FS Ken Hamlin is solid in deep patrol, but he isn't at his best when matched up one-on-one with a wideout. New York may respond to those weaknesses with more multiple-receiver sets. OLB DeMarcus Ware is a terrific player who not only is an exceptional pass-rusher (14 sacks), but also has a tremendous knack for creating turnovers. His speed is phenomenal. Ware teams with fellow OLB Greg Ellis to form a disruptive edge-rushing duo that is very difficult to account for.

When the Cowboys have the ball

Rushing: Though RB Julius Jones technically is Dallas' starter, Marion Barber should earn the bulk of the carries and clearly is the superior player. Barber has good size and strength, runs low and with attitude and seeks out contact. Running behind a very big offensive line, he is capable of wearing down a defense. Jones is niftier and probably faster than Barber, providing value as a change of pace. The offensive line is very balanced and has the great size to wear down an opponent. But when the Cowboys need a tough yard on the ground, they usually run behind massive RG Leonard Davis. Dallas likes to use a lot of two tight end sets because TE Anthony Fasano is an excellent run-blocker and an underrated receiver, while TE Jason Witten is a tremendous pass catcher and also an effective in-line blocker. Expect to see plenty of both on the field together this week against the Giants' elite defensive ends. New York's defense, which held Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham to 63 yards on 18 carries last week, is formidable against the run. If there's a knock on offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, it's that he occasionally abandons the running game too quickly, so keep an eye on that.

Passing:

Dallas QB Tony Romo is having a spectacular season and now ranks among the league's best passers. As the quarterback of the NFC's top seed, the pressure on him is significant, but Romo is very difficult to rattle and shows fantastic poise. For a young quarterback with just 26 career starts he has an exceptional understanding of protections and an uncanny comfort level in the pocket. He has a quick release and is extremely accurate, usually hitting his target in stride. He occasionally runs cold, though, and turnovers often ensue, especially when he misreads coverages. Witten finished the regular season with a whopping 96 catches and obviously is a featured receiver in the offense. He is ultra-reliable and clearly has Romo's trust when the Cowboys need to move the chains. But as good as Witten has been, it's WR Terrell Owens who makes the offense go. Owens is a mismatch against nearly any NFL cover man, and by putting him in motion or moving him around the formation, Garrett often allows Owens a clean release. There isn't a player on New York's roster who can keep up with Owens when he is healthy, though he is a game-time decision this week due to a high ankle sprain. He runs every route on the tree and is a scary weapon over the middle. If speedster Terry Glenn (knee) is close to 100 percent, a potent Cowboys passing attack becomes much more dangerous. The Giants sacked Romo only once in each game this season, but there's no doubt they have the league's best pass rush. LDE Michael Strahan, RDE Osi Umenyiora and backup DE Justin Tuck are a frightening group that will give Dallas' edge protectors all they can handle. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is an aggressive playcaller, but if his pass-rushers don't get home, the suspect secondary won't often bail out the Giants. New York plays a lot of Cover 3 behind its blitzes, which will open the middle of the field for Witten. CB Corey Webster was steady and made plays in place of the injured Sam Madison (abdominal) last week, but the Giants will need every capable cover man they can send onto the field this week.

Special Teams

Dallas PK Nick Folk had an outstanding rookie season, but he never has been asked to kick in a game of this magnitude. P Mat McBriar is among the league's top punters, but the Cowboys' punt coverage team has struggled. The kickoff unit has been better but still is a weakness. Neither team has a dynamic return specialist. The Giants' punt coverage has been a glaring problem this season, but veteran P Jeff Feagles at least is a reliable directional punter. The Giants have the overall special teams edge here, but the difference is nearly negligible.

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