The Giants are back in the NFC East race after four straight wins, but whether they are a real contender is still up for debate.
“That’s what we find out now. We’ll find out if the Giants really have things figured out. The game last week against Green Bay should give them a lot of confidence,” said former Cowboys fullback and FOX analyst Daryl Johnston, who called last Sunday’s victory over the Packers. This Sunday Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are calling the game.
A win over Green Bay normally would leave no doubt, but that’s when Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback, not sidelined with a broken collarbone. That’s been the theme of the Giants’ winning streak, beating subpar quarterbacks in Scott Tolzien (Packers), Terrelle Pryor (Raiders), Matt Barkley (Eagles) and Josh Freeman (Vikings).
But that ends on Sunday when Tony Romo brings the Cowboys into MetLife Stadium with the 4-6 Giants looking to draw even with Dallas and inch within a game of the NFC East-leading Eagles.
“You knew with Tom Coughlin and some of the talent they have there that they were going to get it going eventually,” former Cowboys coach and FOX studio analyst Jimmy Johnson said.
“It may be too little, too late, but Eli Manning’s protecting the ball, they’re running the ball better, playing better defense. But again, they put themselves in such a hole there’s no margin of error now.”
Certainly not against one of the teams the Giants are chasing within the division, but the Cowboys are coming in with their own problems. Another season of high expectations has been hampered by injuries and inconsistencies on their way to a 5-5 mark.
They will be getting healthier this week with star defensive end DeMarcus Ware and receiver Miles Austin returning to the lineup, but they will be without linebacker Sean Lee who went down with a hamstring injury against the Saints.
“The injuries have just been devastating, and Dallas just does not have the depth behind their front-line players,” Johnston said. “It’s just caught up with them, especially on defense. I don’t know how they hang in there in this game. The big thing will be how healthy are the guys coming back . . . This is a Giants team that does have their confidence back, has the belief that they can make a run and be in the equation at the end of the season in the NFC East.”
That has been aided by the fact Manning is slowly starting to resemble the quarterback who led this team to two Super Bowls. Manning has thrown two interceptions in the four wins, after being on a record pace with 15 in the team’s season-opening six losses.
“A lot of the blame has gone to Eli Manning, but he didn’t have a running game, he didn’t have an offensive line,” Johnston said. “They were still trying to throw the ball down the field. I think since they’ve adjusted to a style that’s complementary of the situation he’s in, they’ve started to play better.”