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NFL Week 8 Preview: Giants at Cowboys
By: Steve Bennett - StatFox
Published: 10/28/2012  at  3:28:00 AM
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NEW YORK GIANTS (5-2)

at DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3)

Kickoff: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT
Line: New York -2, Total: 47.5

The Giants seek a fourth straight victory when they roll into Dallas to face a Cowboys team looking to earn the series sweep.

The Giants are also looking for a fourth straight win, SU and ATS, in Big D. When these teams met in New Jersey in the season opener, Dallas was able to take advantage of an injury-ravaged Giants secondary and sloppy play in New York’s passing game en route to a 24-17 upset win. But QB Eli Manning has been very good in his past three victorious trips to Dallas, throwing for 354.3 yards per game and eight touchdowns. Two of the Giants’ three wins in those games were on points scored in the final minute, when Manning seems to shine and the Cowboys seem to consistently fall apart.

Can the Cowboys complete the season sweep of New York on Sunday? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts picks for every NFL game throughout the 2012 season and playoffs.

Manning leads the NFL with 2,109 passing yards, throwing 12 TD and 7 INT in his seven games this year. He has also thrown for 2,710 yards and 21 touchdowns in his past 10 games versus Dallas. WR Hakeem Nicks, whose knee finally looks healthy, has loved playing at Cowboys Stadium with 17 catches for 271 yards and 2 TD in two career visits to Big D. WR Victor Cruz, whose seven touchdown receptions are tied atop the NFL, ranks third in the league in receptions (50) and fifth in receiving yards (627). While the passing attack is in good shape, the ground game might have some issues this week with Ahmad Bradshaw bothered by a sore foot. On defense, New York's pass rush is starting to come around. After tallying just eight sacks in the first five games, the G-Men have recorded nine sacks over the past two contests. The Giants are below average both in rushing defense (126 YPG, 23rd in NFL) and passing defense (253 YPG, 21st in NFL), but they've been able to prevail in three straight games by forcing 10 turnovers during the win streak.

Like Manning, Dallas QB Tony Romo has also been outstanding in this series, throwing for 2,512 yards, 25 TD and just 8 INT in 10 meetings with New York since 2007. Although he has more interceptions (9) than touchdown passes (8) this season, he ranks third in the NFL in completion percentage (67.9%), including a 70.8% clip in his past three games. He's able to remain so accurate because he has done a great job spreading the football out among his top four targets, WRs Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Kevin Ogletree, as well as TE Jason Witten. Austin has 4 TD in six career meetings with New York, and Bryant, who is expected to play despite last week's head injury, has 18 catches for 363 yards (20.2 average) and 4 TD in five career games versus the G-Men. With starting RB DeMarco Murray (foot) still out, Felix Jones will get the bulk of the carries. Although he's been bothered by a knee injury, Jones has still managed to gain 179 total yards over the past two weeks. Dallas ranks third in the NFL in passing defense (187 YPG) and has held its past four opponents to 91.5 rushing YPG on 3.8 yards per carry. The Cowboys need to improve in the takeaway department though, forcing just six turnovers in six games this season.

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