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ARLINGTON, Texas — Of course, the game lives on and can be viewed and reviewed whenever the Giants want to take stroll down bad memory lane. Of course, the Giants studied all that went wrong in their season-opening 24-17 loss to the Cowboys. Of course, they have seen enough.
“I don’t need the film to remember … it just wasn’t a good game,’’ safety Antrel Rolle said. “I think the first half we came out pretty good and the second half, we just stunk up the whole entire second half. So we definitely need to change as a defensive unit, and we will.’’
The Giants believe they will show how much they have changed when they hit the field at Cowboys Stadium today for a rematch they eagerly have been anticipating. They are healthier, riding a three-game winning streak, can put the Cowboys in their rear-view mirror and take a measure of control of the NFC East at the midpoint of the season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in June implored season ticket holders to attend this game to watch his team “beat the Giants’ asses.’’ That triggered some smiles and mild comeback remarks, but you can bet that promise will be ringing in the ears of the Giants.
“This is the point in the season where you got to grind,’’ linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. “You got to start amassing those wins so at the end of the year, we know it might come down to a win or a loss here, we want to make sure we’re on the upside of that.’’
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware vs. Giants LT Will Beatty: The Cowboys have 12 sacks, and Ware has 6 1⁄2 of them, including two in the opener against the Giants. Ware will move along the line and at times will be matched against RT Sean Locklear. But mostly, he is Beatty’s man, and Dallas’ most disruptive force. One caveat: Ware missed the entire week of practice with an illness and might not be at full strength.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Giants sure feel comfortable at Cowboys Stadium. It’s well-documented they are 3-0 in the building, but each victory was a grueling affair, often punctuated by some Eli Manning heroics. The roof usually is closed, and Manning is often at his best indoors. The Cowboys haven’t exactly dominated anyone else in their new home — just 15-12 in their new digs.
WHO’S RUNNING THE BALL?
Ahmad Bradshaw didn’t practice much all week, and his sore foot remains an issue. He will play, but how long and how effectively? After his scintillating two-game stretch, Andre Brown has just 10 rushing attempts in the past four games, so he’s fresh but perhaps rusty.
The Cowboys are hurting even worse. DeMarco Murray (131 yards) crushed the Giants in the opener, but he’s out, and backup Felix Jones will play despite a sore knee. That means someone named Phillip Tanner from Middle Tennessee State could be the man for the ’Boys.
TONY AWARD
The Tony Romo the Giants couldn’t contain back in September is not the quarterback he has been most of this season. As a result, the Cowboys aren’t nearly as potent as they should be. Still, the Giants know if they allow Romo to get comfortable, it’s a problem.
“I don’t think he gets the credit that he deserves,’’ Antrel Rolle said. “When I watch film on him each and every night, some of the throws he makes, it just still stuns me.’’
TIME TO HOLD THE LINE
The first game was the worst game for the Giants’ offensive line, which had Sean Locklear at left tackle and David Diehl at right tackle. Manning was sacked a season-high three times. He has been sacked just twice in the past six games. The line now has Locklear at right tackle, Beatty at left tackle and Diehl as the jumbo tight end.
HEART TRANSPLANT
Nose tackle Jay Ratliff did not play in the opener but will start today for the Cowboys. He makes a big difference, but there’s a glaring hole in the middle, as linebacker Sean Lee was put on injured reserve this week.
“I’d say he was probably the best player on their defense,’’ Locklear said. “DeMarcus Ware is a great player, but Lee, the plays he makes and gets the defense set, it’s gonna hurt them.’’
FAMILIARITY BREEDS YARDAGE
Whenever the Giants meet up with an NFC East opponent, their run defense goes haywire. They allowed 143 rushing yards to the Cowboys in the opener, 191 to the Eagles and 248 to the Redskins. In the other four games, the Giants were dominant, giving up 76 yards per game on the ground.
“Dallas, Philly and Washington, we gave up running yards,’’ middle linebacker Chase Blackburn said. “You look at the other four games we’re pretty solid against the run.’’
PAUL’S PICK
All signs point to the Giants. They are healthier, deeper, playing better and usually are more relentless on the road. If Hakeem Nicks is close to form, air show could be tough to stop.
Giants 31 COWBOYS 17
paul.schwartz@nypost.com