Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants: Complete Week 12 Preview for New York

The 'Boys are back in town, but these Dallas Cowboys won't be welcomed guests in MetLife Stadium. After failing to defend their home turf last weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Giants can reclaim the fanbase with an emotional victory over a despised Dallas team in front of a home crowd.

It's not a likely scenario. The two teams possess exact opposite records; the Cowboys stand atop the division with the Philadelphia Eagles at 7-3, while New York rots at the bottom with Washington at 3-7. The Giants' realistic playoff shot is out the window, so, at this point, they're really just playing for pride.

Which must not be underestimated. Last week, the Giants showed none, as Manning chucked five interceptions, and the offense looked utterly inept. All New York needed was a second-half touchdown to claim the lead and potentially victory against the 49ers last Sunday, and even that seemed impossible for this struggling Giants team.

If New York is to turn this thing around and end the season on a positive note, the reversal must begin in Week 12 against the Cowboys. When these two teams met in Week 7, Dallas delivered a 31-21 smackdown at JerryWorld. The venue has changed this time around—so, too, must the result.

Get caught up on the latest news, injury updates, matchups to watch and more in the slides ahead.

Week 11 Recap

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

First Quarter

6:54—The Giants capitalize on an early San Francisco fumble, as quarterback Eli Manning carves up the 49ers defense for a quick, five-play scoring drive. New York takes the lead on a 19-yard strike to tight end Larry Donnell. Big Blue looks good.

0:59—New York can't slow down San Fran's offense until it reaches the red zone. The 49ers settle for a field goal before the end of the first quarter.

Giants 7, 49ers 3

Second Quarter

10:15—New York's early offensive momentum has completely vanished. The Giants are lucky enough to have a defense that keeps bailing them out, as the unit holds the 49ers to yet another field goal.

7:29—Phil Dawson scores his third field goal—this one a 44-yarder that gives San Francisco its first lead of the game. The previous drive ended with a pick, the first in a flurry of five Manning interceptions.

49ers 9, Giants 7

Third Quarter

11:38—The Giants defense bursts for the first time all game, letting 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree slice through the center for a 48-yard score. With the exception of this one spill, New York was extra careful to keep San Francisco's offense capped.

8:18—Josh Brown adds a field goal, as New York's offense shows a fleeting sign of life in the second half.

49ers 16, Giants 10

Fourth Quarter

No scoring—The hapless Giants can't cash in on any opportunities to score, allowing San Fran to steal a win at MetLife Stadium. The defense keeps it a one-score game all afternoon, but the offense can't score a touchdown. With five minutes left in the game, New York has a 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line. Manning attempts three unsuccessful fades in a row before he is intercepted for the fifth and final time.

49ers 16, Giants 10 (final)

News and Notes

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tiki Has Another Unpopular Opinion

Suggesting Tom Coughlin should lose his job is already incendiary—it's sure to generate controversy and a lot of discussion. But when Tiki Barber is the one doing the suggesting, what you have is a Giants blogger's hyperlinkable fantasy.

One person who disagreed was New York Daily News columnist Gary Myers, who took to Twitter to bring up Barber's failed career at NBC, as well as his unsuccessful comeback attempt in 2011. In a few, brief moments of radio gold, Barber must have felt vindicated as he defended himself against Myers in an on-air exchange.

Eli Manning was another to take issue with Barber's proverbial call for Coughlin's head. Of course, this isn't the first time Manning has disagreed with Barber's post-career commentary.

Is Devon Kennard Really the Future of the Defense?

Big Blue View put together a nice film review of linebacker Devon Kennard this week. The rookie looked good, too. As the study pointed out, Kennard displayed solid strength, intelligence and instincts in his outing against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

But what caught my eye more than anything else was the title of the film study, which referred to Kennard as "the future for the Giants defense."

While Kennard is a quality draft pick and has the talent to play in New York for many years, do I think he's a player the Giants will build around? No, not in Perry Fewell's current 4-3 scheme, which favors dynamic pass-rushers and ball-hawking defensive backs.

Linebackers are essentially space-fillers compared to the other playmakers in Fewell's defense.

But what if the Giants were to bring in a new coordinator this offseason? What if said coordinator wanted to implement a 3-4 base defense in New York? Would Kennard not then be an interesting piece to center a platoon around?

This may be fodder for a future article...

Giants Should Follow the Model Forged by...the Cowboys

OK, I had to flush my eyes with warm water after reading this, but everything Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News says is right: If the Giants want to return to glory, they must do what the dreaded Dallas Cowboys have already done.

Don't agree? Read the five-step plan for yourself and tell me you wouldn't like to see it installed in New York next.

Quote of the Week

Guard Geoff Schwartz on the Giants' running game, per Tom Pedulla of The New York Times: "We have had some struggles running the ball, and that starts with us up front. I think we need to re-establish that identity of running the ball."

Injury Report

David Richard/Associated Press

Here's the Giants' Week 12 injury report, courtesy of NFL.com:

Player	Injury	Practice	Game
DT Cullen Jenkins	Calf	DNP	OUT
T Justin Pugh	Quad	DNP	OUT
LB Jacquian Williams	Concussion	DNP	OUT
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie	Back	Full	Probable
OL Geoff Schwartz	Toe	Full	Probable
DE Mathias Kiwanuka	Knee	Limited	Probable

The Giants get Geoff Schwartz back, but it's too little, too late. His return is timed well with Justin Pugh's injury, as New York will almost certainly be forced to shuffle the lineup this week. I think the only substitution we'll see on Sunday will be Schwartz in at right guard for John Jerry.

New York's senior citizens along the defensive line are feeling the effects of a long, painful season. Mathias Kiwanuka has been able to push through his knee injury, but a recent setback has sent Cullen Jenkins to the sideline. The Giants should start to get younger players more involved at these positions; Damontre Moore and Jay Bromley could use the reps.

The Giants will be missing their most fluid linebacker in coverage with Jacquian Williams concussed. Last week, Mark Herzlich saw a lot of time to combat San Francisco's run-oriented offense. Against the Cowboys, New York may employ the nimbler linebacker in Spencer Paysinger more often.

Matchups to Watch and X-Factor

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Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs. Dez Bryant

I highlighted this matchup the last time these two teams played (Week 7), but Prince Amukamara drew more coverage against Dez Bryant than then-gimpy Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Although DRC is still listed on the injury report, he is showing less visible signs of pain with each passing week.

Besides, the Giants won't have Amukamara available this time around; he's on injured reserve.

So, that means we're definitely going to see this marquee matchup between Bryant and Rodgers-Cromartie on Sunday.

In Week 7, Bryant torched Amukamara for 151 yards on nine catches. Although Bryant can blow by defenders just as easily as he can bowl through them, we'll see if the speedier Rodgers-Cromartie is more effective in coverage than the thicker Amukamara.

Bryant is fresh off his best performance of the year—a 158-yard, two-touchdown outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

Eli Manning vs. Cowboys Secondary

Last week, against the San Francisco 49ers, Eli Manning tied a career high with five interceptions. It was, by far, his worst outing of the 2014 season. Before last week, he had only six picks all season.

Against the Cowboys secondary, Manning will get his first shot at redemption. His last outing against the Cowboys was a great one, although it came in a losing effort. He finished the day 21-of-33 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception.

Manning always steps his game up against Dallas, but so do the Cowboys against him. Members of Dallas' secondary are likely licking their chops after Manning's five-interception chuck-a-thon against the 'Niners. Cowboys cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Orlando Scandrick are both above-average talents; safety Barry Church is another player Manning would be daring to test.

Rashad Jennings vs. Rolando McClain

Starting running back Rashad Jennings is still working his way back from a sprained knee. So is the man assigned to tackle him on Sunday, Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain.

The Giants eased Jennings back into the lineup against the 49ers. Although he saw the vast majority of the offensive snaps at running back, he only received 18 handoffs, eating 59 yards (3.3 yards per carry).

Jennings must also rediscover his timing with Manning in the passing game, after catching just four of seven targets last week (8 yards).

Both Jennings and McClain will both be a step slow, so the player with the better rehab program may hold a slight edge on Sunday.

Giants X-Factor of the Week: Jason Pierre-Paul

OK, JPP, let's go. With your contract running out, I'm running out of reasons to argue for your retention beyond this season. You just haven't been the same since your breakout season in 2011. Perhaps you can give us a taste of the old days and remind us all of your worth against the Cowboys—the team we all know you love to hate.

What do you say? Entertain us, for old time's sake.

Prediction

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Take these to the bank. It's Boilard's Bullet-Point Predictions:

• 90. Rashad Jennings won't eclipse 100 yards in his second game back, but he'll get pretty close. I say he'll gain at least 90 on the ground in an improved showing against the Cowboys. Backup running back Andre Williams will be more effective too.
• 2. Eli Manning will seem a bit looser with his passes, as he throws two more interceptions versus Dallas. It won't be as much of a problem this week, because more of Manning's risks will result in scores than turnovers on Sunday.
• 1.5. Jason Pierre-Paul will be in on multiple quarterback takedowns, yet he'll finish with less than two full sacks.
• Thumped. Mark Herzlich will play fewer snaps than he did last week. Still, he will be a valuable run defender against DeMarco Murray, who racked up 128 yards against the Giants in Week 7.
• ODB for 6. Odell Beckham Jr.'s yardage will sink as he draws more attention, but he'll make up for it with his first touchdown since his two-touchdown outing against...the Cowboys.
• Williams rumbles. The Giants will find themselves in a crucial short-yardage situation much like last week, although, this time, they'll successfully convert by handing off to Williams rather than Jennings.
• You just got Dez'd. Dez Bryant will be the difference in this game. He will dominate New York's short-handed secondary and likely provide the game-winning score.

Don't forget to place your predictions, including final score, in the comment section below.

My educated guess: Cowboys 31, Giants 24