From every precinct reporting in, the Giants are getting stronger, healthier and more complete.
They didn’t stop the run very well the first time they tangled with the Cowboys, but Chris Canty didn’t play in the season-opener and he will be on the field Sunday. They didn’t prevent big plays in the passing game, but Prince Amukamara wasn’t on the scene the first go-round and he will be this time. There were blown scoring chances even with Hakeem Nicks in the first encounter but he was coming off a broken foot and labored; yesterday was his best day all season.
“I saw just a different burst, running differently,’’ Eli Manning gushed about Nicks.
It is all coming together for the Giants, riding high at 5-2 and on a three-game winning streak. They certainly look willing and able to reverse the way they started this season, playing unevenly in all facets in a 24-17 loss. As for the 3-3 Cowboys, well, they are hurting all over. Their two top running backs didn’t practice yesterday. Their starting center is out. They are still reeling from the sudden loss of their top inside linebacker, Sean Lee, who is the heart, soul and brains of the entire defensive operation.
If you are scoring at home, advantage Giants, who, by the way, are 3-0 all-time inside Cowboys Stadium.
“You ever see a wounded leopard?’’ Justin Tuck asked. “You can go to National Geographic because they say it’s one of most dangerous animals in the wild is a wounded leopard. That’s how I approach it when teams have some guys banged up. They are going to come out giving you their best shot. I am not going to feel sorry for them if that’s where you’re going with that.
“Nobody in this league cares who is hurt. I am sure down there, they have guys licking their chops to get the opportunity to play against us.”
All anyone needs to know about the physical state of the Cowboys is the identity of the cover boy for this week’s Dallas Cowboys Star magazine. It’s a picture of Lee, with the headline “Leading Tackler: Sean Lee has become a force on the Dallas Defense.’’
Well, Lee isn’t a force any more. Yesterday he was placed on season-ending injured reserve and needs surgery on his right big toe. Lee leads the Cowboys with 77 tackles, is third in quarterback pressures with eight and makes the defensive calls.
“He’s one of the best lateral linebackers in the league,’’ fullback Henry Hynoski said. “He’s so fast moving side to side. If you look, he always scrapes across the line of scrimmage and making plays. If he’s on one side, he’s making plays on the other side. He’s very good screen defender, taking on lead blocks, as far as what I have to deal with, very good at coming in the hole, sticking, shocking, shedding defenders. He’s an overall great player. It’s a shame that he’s injured. It’s definitely a big loss for them, but they have a lot of guys to make up for it.’’
The Giants are in a far better place. Their depleted secondary was torched in the opener by Tony Romo, as little-known Kevin Ogletree caught two touchdown passes (he hasn’t caught one since) and Miles Austin hauled in one, feasting on the likes of fill-in cornerbacks Michael Coe and Justin Tryon, neither of whom play much on defense anymore. The coverage with Amukamara and rookie Jayron Hosley has been tighter.
“I’d say we learned from a lot of that stuff: Whether it was breakdown in communication, whether it was guys out of position, but I think we’re a much better team than we was the first game of the season,’’ said Corey Webster, who for the first time in weeks is not listed on the injury report with a hamstring issue. “Some of the guys have been out there a little more now, so they’ll be ready and up for the challenge. It’s a little more settled now, who’s going to be out on the field, who’s going to be healthy. We know what to expect from the guy next to us and because of that we should be better than the first game.’’
paul.schwartz@nypost.com