Cowboys vs. Giants: What Are Experts Saying About Dallas?

The Dallas Cowboys come off the bye week looking to grab another divisional victory. This week, they battle the archrival New York Giants in New Jersey.

The Giants have dropped five straight but always seem to play their NFC East opponents well. They lost the first matchup in Dallas, 31-21.

Let’s take a look at what the experts are saying leading up to this big game.

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Terrance Williams' Big Plays Have Disappeared from Offense

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The Cowboys offense has been successful all season, though it’s not hitting on all cylinders. ESPNDallas.com’s Jean-Jacques Taylor knows Terrance Williams hasn’t been contributing of late.

Taylor wrote:

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Terrance Williams has made some of the Cowboys’ biggest plays this season, but lately he has been a non-factor in the offense.

Against Jacksonville, Williams didn’t catch either of the passes directed his way. It marked the first time in his career he had failed to catch a pass in a game when he had at least one pass directed his way.

[...]

Williams had seven catches of 20 yards or more in the Cowboys’ first six games; he has none in the last four.

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Dallas needs its No. 2 wide receiver to be more reliable and consistent. Even though he scored numerous touchdowns early in the year, he still wasn’t catching too many passes. He has only 27 receptions in 2014.

The offense is capable of scoring without him, but when Williams is on, the Cowboys can be unstoppable. Williams has a size and speed advantage over most cornerbacks in the league; he just has to take advantage of his opportunities. If he can be a factor this week, Dallas’ offense should roll.

Calvin Watkins: Dez Says, 'I Don’t Think We Worked Hard Enough'

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Dez Bryant has been on the last three Cowboys teams that finished 8-8. According to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com, the receiver thinks his team didn’t do enough to win then, but this year that’s changed. Bryant said:

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I'm going to give you my honest opinion. The years that we did go 8-8, I think – me, because this is just how I am -- I don't think we worked hard enough. ... It feels different, it's a lot different -- it's a lot different from last year. We're more together, we want it more, we've got the same vision, and that's kind of hard when you've got a team like that.

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Bryant is one of the leaders on this team, and this quote explains why. He pushes himself and the others around him to be better on a daily basis.

Although it’s difficult to tell if the team is actually working harder, Dallas does seem to be more together this season. If it can continue to grow on the field, the possibilities are endless for this team.

Todd Archer: Cowboys Get Eighth Win of Season

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Divisional games are always an extremely important part of the NFL season. ESPNDallas.com’s Todd Archer thinks the Cowboys will complete the season sweep of the Giants, writing:

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DeMarco Murray ran for 128 yards in the Cowboys’ win vs. the Giants earlier this season and New York has the worst-ranked run defense in the NFL, giving up 145 yards a game. That certainly bodes well for a team coming off the bye looking to reassert its physical presence on the offensive line. The Cowboys believe they are better built for the stretch run than they have been in recent years. 

They’ll kick off their final six-game push with a win and equal their win total in each of the last three seasons.

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With the way the NFC playoff picture is shaping up, every week of the regular season will be crucial. Dallas has to take care of business against conference foes in order to solidify its playoff positioning in a very competitive year.

The Cowboys offense shouldn’t have many issues Sunday night. The Giants defense is struggling, and Dallas’ unit should be more rested than ever.

DeMarco Murray is likely to have another big day rushing, unless the Giants have something up their sleeve. If so, quarterback Tony Romo has plenty of mismatches in the secondary to pick from. If the Cowboys can limit Beckham’s big plays, they will be able to secure another victory.