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Giants at Cowboys: Preview, Predictions, and More

By Stephen Forsha

Oct 25, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings (23) runs for a first down against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the NFL game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings (23) runs for a first down against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the NFL game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys

Being the opener of the 2016 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants won’t be wasting any time renewing their heated rivalry as they each are looking to get back to the top spot of the NFC East. The Cowboys also enter this game with rookie Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback, as Tony Romo will miss multiple weeks with a back injury.

Though the Cowboys enter this game after a disastrous 2015 season where they finished 4-12 overall, the Giants are also looking for a better season. They’ll come in with a new head coach in Ben McAdoo, who was their offensive coordinator in a season where the Giants finished 6-10.

Related Story: Cowboys: 5 Non-Starters To Watch Week 1

Cowboys Keys To Victory

1. Quarterback Play: Dak Prescott must play within himself and not try to be the hero in his very first NFL start. He must play poised, and the Cowboys must provide proper protection to keep the quarterback upright.

2. Defense: The defense of the Cowboys must really step up because they are having an uphill battle due to three starters being suspended, plus they are coming off a season where they were 17th overall last season in total defense.

3. Rookie Running Back: The running game must keep the Giants’ offense off the field. When the Cowboys drafted Ezekiel Elliott fourth-overall, they said his play would help the defense of the Cowboys by the offense controlling the clock. If that does happen in Week 1, it will limit the number of chances Odell Beckham Jr. has against the Cowboys.

Giants Keys To Victory

1. Pass Rush: Pressure Dak Prescott. If the Giants can put pressure with their front seven, it will force the rookie quarterback to make rushed decisions, which in turn will help their defensive backfield gain better reads on them.

2. Stop The Run: Stop the run, and they win. If the Giants can force the Cowboys to throw the ball more by stopping the running game of the Cowboys, it could spell success for the GMen. New York allowed 121.4 rushing yards per game in ’15, ninth-best in the NFL. If they keep the Cowboys’ rushing game frustrated this week, it will lead to a win for the visitors.

3. Run the Football: Giants must be able to run the football themselves. Last season, the Giants were 19th in rushing (1,609) and 18th in yards per carry (4.0). To help out Eli Manning and the wide receivers, that number will have to be a little better this game.

Odds

Point Spread: Cowboys -4
Moneyline: +168 Giants, -185 Cowboys
Over/Under: 46

Prediction

This game will be tough for each team in a variety of ways, as the Cowboys have a rookie quarterback and running back being looked at to lead this team to points for the offense. The offensive line of the Cowboys must be on top of their game, and they do have the ability to keep the defensive line of the Giants in check.

The defense of the Cowboys could have problems containing the wide receivers of the Giants as Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the best in the league, and there are also rookie Sterling Shepard and veteran Victor Cruz to keep an eye on as well.

must read: Cowboys Can Make the Playoffs

This game will come down to the fourth quarter, and it won’t rely on the Cowboys offense vs. the Giants defense, but opposite, as the Cowboys defense can’t have a relapse of the ’15 season where their defensive backfield wasn’t that productive when it mattered most.

Pick: New York Giants: 28, Dallas Cowboys: 31

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