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- Changes to the offensive line.**
The Giants have started the same five offensive linemen in all 10 games this season, but that will change on Sunday night when they host the Dallas Cowboys, who are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East lead. Not only is right tackle Justin Pugh, who had started every game there since Week 1 of his rookie year last season, ruled out for the game with a quadriceps injury, but veteran Geoff Schwartz is ready to play in his first game this season after being activated off injured reserve/designated for return.
"We have some guys moving around right now competing for spots," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said. "Anytime that you have competition, it's a good thing. It's a good thing for your football team, it's a good thing for that unit and it's a good thing for the individuals. … You roll them in there. Whoever has the best week of preparation plays."
2. Last-place run defense vs. NFL's leading rusher.
After giving up 498 yards on the ground over the last two weeks, the Giants fell to 32nd in the NFL against the run. They will have an opportunity to make a statement against the Cowboys and running back DeMarco Murray, who leads the NFL with 1,233 rushing yards. Second place is 282 yards off his pace.
3. DRC vs. Dez
Playing through hamstring and back issues, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was limited in his first meeting with wide receiver Dez Bryant in Week 7. Rodgers-Cromartie will look to put his best foot forward this time against Bryant, who finished with nine catches for 151 yards in the Cowboys' 31-21 victory in October.
4. Eli's response.
Keep an eye on these 5 players during Sunday's night game vs. the Dallas Cowboys
OL Geoff SchwartzThe offseason acquisition is in line to make his Giants debut after being activated this week off injured reserve/designated for return. The veteran lineman suffered a dislocated right big toe in the preseason and has yet to play in the regular season. We'll see where and for how long Schwartz plays on Sunday night. Starting right tackle Justin Pugh (quadriceps) has been ruled out of the prime-time game against the Dallas Cowboys.
QB Eli ManningWhile looking to bounce back from a five-interception game in last week's loss to the 49ers, Eli Manning celebrated the 10th anniversary of his first NFL start this week. "Right in the hunt there and all of a sudden, we didn't play well. Then I thought, 'It's time to move this kid in there. He's the future of the franchise. Let's do what's best for the team, for the franchise,'" Tom Coughlin recalled of the Nov. 21, 2004 start vs. Atlanta. "We had some growing pains, no doubt about it. But coming back the next year, winning 11 games, I think, was a critical part of moving our franchise in the right direction."
CB Dominique Rodgers-CromartieIn the first meeting with Dallas this season, Rodgers-Cromartie was limited with back and hamstring issues, but this time around he's "feeling a lot better" while still playing through injuries. The Giants will need him at his best against the Cowboys and their offensive weapons, including wide receiver Dez Bryant. "You've got to have a different mentality," Rodgers-Cromartie said of facing Bryant. "You always have the same mentality, just going out there and trying to win, but when you've got a dude of that caliber and he's got that dog in him, you've got to have kind of a nasty attitude going against him."
LB Mark HerzlichStarting in place of Jacquian Williams, who was out with a concussion, Herzlich racked up nine tackles last week in a rebound performance by the Giants' defense. Herzlich will look to have another strong performance with Williams again ruled out for Sunday night. "I thought Mark played with a lot of passion," defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. "I thought he played with a lot of heart. He made some football plays for us in the football game. He brought some toughness to the defense, I thought."
RB Rashad JenningsAfter missing four games with a knee injury, Jennings returned last week and knocked off the rust with 18 carries for 59 yards. But the Giants rushed for just 65 yards as a team. "He was feeling his way back," coach Tom Coughlin said. "There's no way around it. He hadn't played in a game for quite some time. He'll improve in this week's game, because of having an opportunity to play and feel good about coming through the game last week."
Quarterback Eli Manning shouldered last week's loss to San Francisco after throwing five interceptions, which nearly doubled his season total up to that point. Now he will look to bounce back on the 10th anniversary of when he took over as starting quarterback on Nov. 21, 2004. "I love what I'm doing," Manning said. "Football can seem great at times and you feel like you have the best job in the world. Sometimes it's tough, but I still feel I've got the best job in the world. You go through tough stretches; we're going through one now. It has not been easy and there have been down moments, but I still love the competition of it, love the preparation of it and just love that feeling of having a great week of work and going to get a win. That feeling in the locker room, that satisfaction, working hard to get that feeling again."
5. Rashad 2.0.
Rashad Jennings returned last week from a four-game absence due to a knee injury suffered in Week 5, and ran the ball 18 times for 59 yards against the Niners. Sunday will be his first game in the Giants-Cowboys rivalry. "I think he played well," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said of Jennings' return. "He may have been a little bit rusty but that will disappear."
6. Injury report and game statuses.
Out: DT Cullen Jenkins (calf), T Justin Pugh (quadriceps) and LB Jacquian Williams (concussion).
Probable: DE Mathias Kiwanuka (knee), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (back/hamstring) and G Geoff Schwartz (toe).
7. Cowboys tight ends.
While perennial All-Pro Jason Witten was limited to two catches for 27 yards in the first leg of the season series, it was the second tight end, Gavin Escobar, who did damage a month ago against the Giants. Including the first score of the game, Escobar caught two touchdowns from 15 and 26 yards for the Cowboys. The Giants can't overlook either this Sunday.
8. Keep fighting.
Looking to end a five-game skid, the Giants (3-7) sit four games off the NFC East lead with six games to play. Coughlin's message to the team this week was: "Keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, that is all it takes, one game at a time, bounce back. Again, it is about all of those eyes that look at me on Wednesday morning, I am thinking about them, quite frankly, trying to bring them through the disappointment toward the next opponent." Dallas is that next opponent.
Get to know the Giants' opponent for their Week 12 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys
QB Tony Romo
RB DeMarco Murray
WR Dez Bryant
WR Terrance Williams
TE Jason Witten
TE James Hanna
FB Tyler Clutts
LT Tyron Smith
LG Ronald Leary
Center Travis Frederick
RG Zack Martin
RT Jermey Parnell
DE Tyrone Crawford
DT Nick Hayden
DT Henry Melton
DE Jeremy Mincey
SLB Bruce Carter
MLB Rolando McClain
WLB Keith Smith
CB Brandon Carr
CB Orlando Scandrick
FS Barry Church
SS J.J. Wilcox
Punter Chris Jones
Kicker Dan Bailey
KR/PR Dwayne Harris
Head Coach Jason Garrett
Offensive Coordinator Bill Callahan
Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli
