The Dallas Cowboys are set to open their new $1.15 billion home against
the New York Giants. They're hoping the different surroundings don't change
the recent trend that developed between the NFC East rivals at the Cowboys'
former stadium.
New York and Dallas meet in the first game at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday
night, with both teams looking to build on opening-week victories.
The Cowboys are leaving Texas Stadium after 37 years for the new state-of-
the-art, retractable-roof facility in Arlington, and they hope that doesn't
spell the end of their recent home success against the Giants. Dallas won
the last meeting at Texas Stadium 20-8 on Dec. 14, giving it three victories
in the last four matchups there. The Cowboys have won four of the previous
five meetings overall.
That December game marked perhaps the low point of the Giants' season, as
the Cowboys sacked Eli Manning eight times, intercepted him twice and
limited him to 191 yards passing with no touchdowns.
Dallas, though, didn't look nearly that formidable defensively in its
opener. The Cowboys gave up 450 yards, their most in 36 games, to Tampa Bay
last Sunday despite going on to win 34-21.
The yardage total was Dallas' highest allowed in a victory in 52 games.
"It wasn't anything they were doing to us," said linebacker Keith Brooking,
who admitted to having trouble sleeping following the lackluster effort.
"We just have to be more disciplined."
The Buccaneers rushed for 174 yards, and Brooking and his teammates will
face another formidable ground attack Sunday with Brandon Jacobs and the
Giants coming to town.
"We won't reinvent the wheel," linebacker Bradie James said. "We've just
got to go out and play good defense, corral and populate the ball. ...
This is a copycat league. I'm sure they will try to do a couple of things
the Bucs did. But the Giants are the Giants. They're going to do what they
know how to do, and they're going to do it real well. It's up to us to match
their intensity and outplay them."
The Cowboys overcame the poor defensive performance thanks to Tony Romo,
who threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns. Dallas rushed for 118 yards,
led by Marion Barber, who had 79 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
While the Cowboys won in spite of their defense last week, the Giants
were impressive on that side of the ball in a 23-17 victory over Washington.
They held the Redskins to 272 yards - 85 rushing - and forced two turnovers
and got three sacks, including 1 1/2 by NFC defensive player of the week
Justin Tuck.
End Osi Umenyiora, sidelined last season by a knee injury, forced a fumble
on a sack of Jason Campbell and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown in the
second quarter.
"Not only was it a W, but it was against an NFC East opponent," Umenyiora
said. "It was a great game."
The Giants will try to get another such win this week, and they hope Manning
can repeat his performance from the opener. The quarterback looked sharp in
going 20 of 29 for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception,
completing passes to seven receivers.
"It shows he has confidence in any number of people," coach Tom Coughlin
said. "We were able to spread it around and get the backs involved. It's
a good thing."
Another good thing for the Giants could be the activation of linebacker
Michael Boley from the reserve-suspended list Tuesday. Signed as a free
agent in the offseason and expected to start on the weak side, Boley was
suspended for the opener by the league for violating the NFL's personal
conduct policy.
New York also claimed rookie running back Gartrell Johnson off waivers
from San Diego after third-string back Danny Ware was lost to a dislocated
elbow last Sunday. Ware will miss at least two weeks.
The Giants also lost rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks for at least two weeks
with a sprained foot.
The Cowboys' new stadium was the source of some controversy during the
preseason, when Titans punter A.J. Trapasso hit the giant video board August
21. That caused the league to alter its playing rules, which now call for an
immediate whistle and a replay of the down, with no time taken off the clock,
should a ball hit the board.
The teams meet at Giants Stadium on Dec. 6.
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