Week 17 NFL Picks: Prediction for New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants enter Week 17's only prime-time game and it should be a doozy. The two teams enter the contest with identical 8-7 records and the victor will win the NFC East and be headed to the postseason, while the loser will start the offseason early.

The two teams met in Week 14 at Jerry Jones' palace in Dallas and the Giants pulled off a shocking comeback win. The Cowboys led 34-22 with less than four minutes remaining and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with a humbling 37-34 loss. 

This weekend's contest will essentially be a playoff game for both teams, so I think we can throw out past performances. This will come down to who wants it more.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is likely to play despite the bruised throwing hand he suffered during the team's 20-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.

Romo has had a great season numbers-wise, completing 317-of-485 passes (65.4 percent) for 3,895 yards, with 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passer rating of 102.2 is a career-best and ranks fourth in the league.

On the other sideline, Eli Manning was just selected to his second Pro Bowl and to this point has completed 335-of-556 passes (60.3 percent) for a career high 4,587 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His passer rating of 90.3 ranks ninth in the league. Manning also has the league's second-best fourth-quarter passer rating at 107.5.

The matchup to watch this weekend will be Manning and wideouts Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz against Dallas' secondary. The Cowboys are allowing 238.3 yards per game through the air and Manning torched them for 400 yards in the first meeting.

I think the Giants will come out on fire with their home crowd behind them and take the win. Dallas has been far too uneven this season and I don't trust their secondary to bottle up all of Manning's weapons.

Prediction: New York Giants 27, Dallas Cowboys 21