At the beginning of this NFL season, this matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants would have been huge. A battle of primetime quarterbacks in Tony Romo and Eli Manning. Two superstar wide receivers on both sides in the flamboyant Terrell Owens and the controversial Plaxico Burress.
Any way you chose to promote it would have guaranteed an exciting divisional matchup between arguably the best two teams in the very competitive NFC East.
Oh how things have changed since week 1. Both teams are still very much in the running for the NFC East title, especially the Giants at 6-1 and the Cowboys at 5-3, but the Giants have been labeled the best team in the league and the Cowboys suffuring from one too many injuries.
I don't think you can ever, I mean ever count out the Dallas Cowboys. There is just way too much talent on this team on both sides of the football. The Achillies heel for the Cowboys will be the 40 year old Brad Johnson at quarterback. Johnson doesn't bring the mobility, arm strength and all around ability that a Tony Romo has brought the Cowboys which could just mean the game for Dallas and another victory for the Giants.
Last weekend the Giants showed their true colors after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers and picking off Ben Roethlisberger 4 times. Before this game which was being called a Super Bowl preview between the best in the NFC and the best in the AFC, the Steelers were condsidered the best defense in the NFL, but after New York beat Big Ben and company 21-14 the tables have turned as the G Men now arguably the best team in the NFL.
This will be the toughest game of the season for Wade Phillips and his Cowboys. No Tony Romo, a banged up Jason Witten and a ancient Brad Johnson behind center. Dallas still has some time to lick their wounds and make some decisions on whether they want Johnson taking the snaps or handing the football over to Brooks Bollinger (which they should do).
The Giants on the other hand will be coming into this contest with a lot of confidence and looking to get that much closer to winning the NFC East. Unless the Cowboys really come together on defense to limit Eli Manning and company, then Dallas could be in for a long day in New York. One way the Cowboys could get the best of New York in week 9 will be Marion Barber. If this monster out of the backfield can get the running game going and limits the amount of times Johnson has to dictate the offense, then Dallas' have a good chance of pulling off the upset against their arch rivals.
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