Bold Predictions for New York Giants' Week 1 Matchup

Are you ready for some football?

Of course you are—if you weren’t, you probably wouldn’t be reading this right now.

What better way to kick off the 2015 season than to put the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys, the defending NFC East champions?

With apologies to the other 31 NFL teams, the Cowboys have somehow mastered the art of fitting a football game around the extracurricular activities that include cheerleaders, end-zone dancers, fireworks and just a big ol’ party for tens of thousands of people.

It all goes down Sunday night, the winner of this game jumping out to an all-important 1-0 lead not just in the division but in head-to-head competition, which is the first tiebreaker used to determine playoff seeding later in the year.

To help get you ready for the big divisional showdown, here are a few bold and not-so-bold predictions ahead of the game.

Victor Cruz Will Not Play

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What was initially classified by head coach Tom Coughlin and receiver Victor Cruz as being a “minor” bump in the road to the receiver’s return from season-ending knee surgery is now stretching into its fourth week.

That’s concerning for a Giants passing offense that is probably going to have to carry this team, at least in the beginning of the season.

On Monday, Coughlin told reporters that all he knew as far as Cruz’s status was concerned was that the receiver was able to run on an underwater treadmill.  

When asked if Cruz would have to be handled differently given the situations with his calf and knee, Coughlin added, “I thought we worked our way pretty much through [the knee rehab], but that could have an effect on what’s going on with the other leg, as well. You never know about that.”

While New York will have Rueben Randle on the field, his lack of consistency can be maddening at times, and if he doesn’t bring it on every play, it could potentially be a long evening for Odell Beckham Jr.

Simply put, Cruz’s presence might very well have “discouraged” the Cowboys from double-teaming Beckham.

Now? While one would like to think that Randle will step up and be the receiver he was at the close of last season, his career has been like a box of unmarked chocolates: You never seem to know what you’re going to get from him on a week-to-week basis.

Eli Manning Will Finish with a Passer Rating of at Least 90

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There’s something about playing against the Cowboys that brings out the best in Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Giants signal-caller has posted a passer rating of 90 or better in seven of his last eight regular-season games against the Cowboys, the lone exception coming on October 28, 2012, when despite posting a 58.4 passer rating, Manning still led the Giants to a 29-24 win.

Although Manning might not have Victor Cruz on the field, he will have Odell Beckham Jr., who will look to tear up a Cowboys secondary that will be missing cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Regardless of who’s back there for the Cowboys, Manning, who in that eight-game stretch has thrown for at least 300 yards, just seems to find a way to carve up the Cowboys defense, even if the rest of the team doesn’t do its part to win games.  

Shane Vereen Will Lead the Giants in Rushing Yards

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Forget about what the Giants.com depth chart says regarding the pecking order of the running backs. There’s a reason why we didn’t see much of running back Shane Vereen in the preseason.

That is because offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo likely wanted to keep the lid on how he plans to use Vereen’s numerous talents until the games started counting for real.

Well, the time to act is now, and to that end, don’t be surprised if Vereen ends up with more rushing yards than projected-starter Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams, the No. 2 back on the Giants depth chart.

Let’s go with seven carries for 85 yards for Vereen in his Giants debut—and that total obviously doesn’t count receptions or receiving yards where Vereen could add three catches for 20 yards.

TE Jason Witten Will Burn the Giants Again

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

There is something about playing the Giants that brings out the best in future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten.

Just look at his history. According to Pro Football Reference, Witten has recorded 119 receptions (out of 165 targets) for 1,264 yards and 11 touchdowns against the Giants, his touchdown total being the most against an NFC East opponent.

The Giants will likely line up linebacker J.T. Thomas in coverage against Witten. Thomas is certainly athletic enough to keep up, but Witten just seems to find it all too natural to make fools out of any Giants linebacker who attempts to cover him.

Beckham Will Record a 10th Straight Game with at Least 90 Receiving Yards

Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

When last we left the amazing Odell Beckham Jr., he had just tied former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin’s mark of nine consecutive regular-season games with at least 90 receiving yards.

On Sunday night, Beckham will have a chance to pass the mark set in 1995 by the Hall of Famer, and what better place to do it than against Irvin’s former team in front of a national television audience?

If Beckham does pass Irvin in the record books, it will be every bit as spectacular of a moment for Giants fans as was his amazing fingertip grab last year, which was also made against the Cowboys in primetime.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.

Follow @Patricia_Traina.