Giants-Cowboys tale of the tape
Following two weeks on the road, the Giants return to MetLife Stadium for a Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. It is the second meeting between the division rivals this season, with the Cowboys prevailing at home in Week 5.
The Giants fell to the Los Angeles Chargers last week, 37-21. Saquon Barkley (4.0 avg.) and Devontae Booker (7.0 avg.) combined for 120 yards on 24 carries, adding seven receptions for 59 yards and a score. But Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, while LA rushed for 152 yards on their way to the win.
The Cowboys are coming off a division win after they traveled to the nation's capital and defeated the Washington Football Team, 27-20. Dak Prescott completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, but the defense carried the day. The Cowboys forced four turnovers, including three fumbles, and registered five sacks.
Here are stats and notes on players from both teams ahead of the Week 15 matchup.
*QB Mike Glennon passed for 2 TDs & had 1st- career rush TD in Week 14.
*QB Dak Prescott passed for 302 yards & 3 TDs vs. INT for 116.9 rating in Week 5 meeting. Has 976 pass yards (325.3 per game) & 10 TDs vs. INT for 118.9 rating in his past 3 at NYG. Aims for his 4th in row at NYG with 3+ TD passes & 100+ rating.
*RB Saquon Barkley had 95 scrimmage yards (64 rush, 31 rec.) & 2nd TD catch of season last week. Since 2018, is 1 of 6 RBs to average 100+ scrimmage yards per game (104.2). Aims for his 3rd in row at home vs. Dal. with 95+ scrimmage yards. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 17 of his 18 career home games. RB Devontae Booker had 84 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 28 rec.) in Week 14. Has 60+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4 at home.
*RB Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 110 yards & had 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in Week 5 meeting. Has 866 scrimmage yards (96.2 per game) & 8 TDs (7 rush, 1 rec.) in 9 career games vs. NYG. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NYG with rush TD. Since 2016, leads NFL in rush yards (7,194) & scrimmage yards (9,396). RB Tony Pollard had 103 scrimmage yards (75 rush, 28) in last meeting.
*TE Kyle Rudolph led team with season-high 66 rec. yards last week. WR Sterling Shepard has 7+ receptions & 75+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 at home. Had 8 catches & 136 scrimmage yards (112 rec., 24 rush) with 2 TDs (1 rec., 1 rush) in last home meeting.
*WR Amari Cooper had 6th rec. TD of season last week & is 1 of 8 players all-time with 5+ TD catches in each of 1st 7 seasons. Had rec. TD in last meeting. Has 5+ catches in 3 of his past 4 on road. WR CeeDee Lamb led team with 7 receptions & 61 rec. yards last week. Had TD catch in last meeting. Needs 110 rec. yards for 1st-career 1,000-yard season. WR Michael Gallup aims for his 5th in row with 5+ catches. TE Dalton Schultz aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYG with 70+ rec. yards.
*CB James Bradberry had PD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Dal. with PD. Is only player with 10+ PD in each of past 6 seasons. Has PD in each of his 13 home games with NYG. LB Azeez Ojulari had sack last week & ranks 3rd among rookies with 7.5 sacks in 2021. LB Tae Crowder needs 4 tackles for 1st- career 100-tackle season. Had FF in last meeting.
*LB Micah Parsons became 5th rookie since 2000 with 12+ sacks (12) & 3+ FFs (3) in single season & is 3rd rookie with sack in 6 straight games since 1982. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 17 TFL. CB Trevon Diggs leads NFL with 9 INTs & ranks tied-1st with 17 PD. Had INT in last meeting & aims for his 4th in row vs. NYG with PD. S Jayron Kearse had 1st-career FR last week. Is 1 of 2 (Jalen Ramsey) with 8+ TFL (8) & 9+ PD (9) in 2021.
View rare photos from the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.
Notebook: Giants deal with 7 players on COVID list
Patrick Graham isn’t certain who will staff the Giants’ secondary Sunday, but he does know how those players who take the field will be outfitted.
"They'll be wearing blue helmets, I know that, so we'll see," Graham, the team's defensive coordinator, said today. "We'll see, we'll see, we'll see. It's a little funky right now."
It certainly is. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson today became the second cornerback – and the sixth Giants player - to test positive this week for COVID-19. Jackson joins fellow corner Aaron Robinson, wide receivers Kadarius Toney and John Ross, and linebackers Cam Brown and Oshane Ximines on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Safety Xavier McKinney is also on the list and not with the team because he is a high-risk close contact.
As a close contact, if McKinney continues to test negative, he will be allowed to return to the Giants' facility Saturday, making him eligible to play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys in MetLife Stadium.
"As long as he continues to test negative, we plan on him playing," coach Joe Judge said. "We can get him back Saturday. We can give him a little of a walk-through and all that stuff. We'll kind of get him moving around a bit, get his body back going, and we plan on him playing Sunday."
Jackson missed the last two games with a quad injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by Robinson, the Giants' third-round draft choice this year. If neither of them plays Sunday, the likely starter would be Jarren Williams, who made his 2021 debut two weeks ago in Miami and has played 48 snaps in two games. He was elevated from the practice squad for each game and would have to be signed to the roster to play Sunday.
Williams played in two games as a rookie free agent last year.
"He's a young player," Judge said. "He's definitely still developing. Jarren plays with the right mentality. He's a physical player. He's got a good skill set in terms of speed, burst, and good short-area quickness. He's definitely still learning the craft."
"He just has that chip on his shoulder," said cornerback James Bradberry, whose skill and experience become more vital this week. "He's a small school guy (University at Albany). He's eager to get out there and make a play. I think this would be his second start (actually, his first). So, he's definitely ready to get out there and go play. I think just having that chip on his shoulder, that eagerness to go out there, that helps out a lot with just making plays, just calming those nerves."
View photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their NFC East matchup against the Cowboys.
Eli's Extras | White Manna with Chris Distefano
In this episode of Eli's Extras, presented by Dunkin', Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara hit up one of the best burger joints in the country, New Jersey's own White Manna. Eli learns how to create the perfect slider before the guys are interrupted by comedian and lifelong Giants fan Chris Distefano.