Cowboys Vs Giants: Sunday Night Football Preview

The Dallas Cowboysare hoping Tony Romo can solve his late-season woes as they try to take amajor step toward the NFC East title.

The fading New York Giants are hopeful that Eli Manning'sright foot problem won't hamper him in a game they desperately need.

The Cowboys make their final visit to Giants Stadium onSunday when they try to avenge an earlier loss to New York, which needs a win to keep anyrealistic hopes of winning the division alive.

Cowboys Vs Giants Sunday Night FootballPreview

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook Sportsbetting.com havemade the Cowboys -1 point spread favorites (View NFL odds) for Sunday’s game(Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 70% of bets forthis game have been placed on the Cowboys -1

Dallas (8-3) leads Philadelphia by one game and New York by two in the East as it tries toerase the memories of past poor finishes. The Cowboys are 5-10 the previousthree seasons after November, including two playoff losses.

Romo is a big reason for those woes with 16 touchdowns, 20interceptions and a 58.2 completion percentage in those games. He has 17touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

"We don't look at other seasons," Romo said."This is this season - it is brand new football team. Nothing that happened in 1999 or 2004 or2008 has any bearing on what is going to happen this December. We feel asthough we are just going to keep getting better each day we are out here."

While the Cowboys have some breathing room, the Giants (6-5)need a strong finish to make a fifth straight playoff appearance. A spot in thepostseason seemed assured when New York started 5-0 before it lost five of six.

Making matters worse was the news over the weekend thatManning has a stress reaction in his right foot. The former Super Bowl MVPdeveloped the injury while dealing with another problem on the bottom of hisfoot during a win Oct. 4 at Kansas City.

"In the games it doesn't bother me and I don't thinkabout it. This is not something I am overly concerned with," Manning said."It has been the same for probably the last three to four weeks, it'snothing new. I can go out and practice and do all I need to do."

The Cowboys are looking for revenge after the Giants spoiledthe first game at their new stadium with a 33-31 win Sept. 20. Manning wasspectacular in throwing for 330 yards, two touchdowns and leading New York on a drive fora game-winning field goal as time expired.

Romo had his worst game of the season, completing 13 of 29passes for 127 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

The Cowboys believe Manning rubbed it in by scribbling hisname and adding the score, the date and the words "First Win in the NewStadium" on a concrete column in the visitors' locker room. LinebackerBradie James hasn't seen the column, but he's seen a picture and is convincedit's real.

"We won't forget that," James said. "It justmakes for a more intense game."

New Yorkdoesn't resemble that team at this point, except with its struggling defense.The Giants allowed 378 yards in that contest - 251 on the ground - and haveallowed an average of 362.5 yards in their last two games.

The Giants' defense will be without middle linebackerAntonio Pierce, who was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.Second-year linebacker Jonathan Goff took snaps with the starters this week.

New York's offense - rankedseventh in the NFL - also fared badly in last Thursday's 26-6 loss at Denver. Manning failed tothrow for a touchdown for the first time this season as the Giants had aseason-low 267 yards.

Brandon Jacobs rushed for a season-low 27 yards on 11carries and could be the only healthy running back for the Giants. BackupsAhmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware missed practice Wednesday and coach Tom Coughlinis uncertain about their status for this game.

New York also trails 7-4 Green Bay in the playoffrace heading into this critical two-game stretch. The Giants host the Eaglesnext Sunday, and never envisioned being in this situation.

"We are trying the best we can to get the spirits backup," Coughlin said. "What happened yesterday is over, and the onlything that you can take care of is in the moment."

Romo has won both career starts at Giants Stadium as Dallas heads into adifficult closing stretch in which four of its last five opponents have winningrecords. The Cowboys won 24-7 over Oaklandlast Thursday after scoring a total of 14 points in their previous two games.

"This team needs to win," James said. "We'rein a good position. We're No. 1 in our division and the only way we can stayNo. 1 is we have to beat the teams in our division. ... That's it. Noexcuses."