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Dallas Cowboys Vs. New York Giants: Bold Predictions For Huge NFC East Clash

By Daniel Benjamin
Published on: 22:03 PST, Dec 5, 2016

The Dallas Cowboys can clinch the NFC East division with a win on Sunday night in New Jersey against the New York Giants. Game time is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET with the game being televised by NBC.

Dallas (11-1) extended its franchise record win streak to 11 games on Thursday with a 17-15 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys struggled on offense against the Vikes totaling just 264 yards of offense. They also turned the ball over twice.

New York (8-4) had its six-game winning streak snapped by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. New York managed only 234 yards of total offense and quarterback Eli Manning threw two interceptions.

This will be the second meeting between the teams this year and 110th overall. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 62-45-2, though they have lost the last two meetings. New York’s defense held Dallas to one touchdown in its 20-19 victory in the season-opening matchup.

Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning will throw an interception

Manning had his two-game streak of not throwing an interception end against the Steelers as he was picked off twice. Manning now has 12 interceptions on the season. He has thrown multiple interceptions in a game (five times).

Manning struggled against Pittsburgh overall, completing 24-of-39 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He has completed less than 63.2 percent of his passes — his season average — three of the last four games. Manning also has not thrown for more than 260 yards in six consecutive contests.

Manning is 12-12 against the Cowboys in his career, completing 60.92 percent of his passes with 47 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.

Dallas’ defense is giving up 276 yards through the air and has only four interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks have recorded a 100.8 passer rating against the Cowboys this year.

Ezekiel Elliott will run for 90 yards and total 1,115 yards from scrimmage

Normally this prediction would have Elliott topping the century mark. But the rookie hasn’t totaled that many rushing yards in the last three games. He is coming off a 20-carry, 86-yard and one touchdown performance against the Vikings — marking the third time this season he has been held to less than 90 yards.

Elliott ranks first in the league in rushing yards (1,295), first in rushing touchdowns (12) and first in rushing yards per game (107.1). He also has 28 receptions for 322 yards and a touchdown. Elliott has totaled 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his last four games.

Elliott was held to a season-low 51 yards on 20 carries by the Giants in Week 1. Elliott also had just one reception for one yard.

Pittsburgh rolled up 117 yards on the ground against the Giants on Sunday to become the fourth team to surpass the 100-yard mark. Running back Le’Veon Bell totaled 117 of those yards on 29 carries. The Steelers are the first team in the last seven games to top the 100-yard mark on the ground against the G-Men.

New York is permitting 91.4 yards on the ground a game, which ranks fifth in the league. The Giants are also allowing the second fewest yards per carry at 3.6.

Jason Pierre-Paul or Olivier Vernon will record a sack

Pierre-Paul and Vernon have been a very disruptive force for Giants’ opponents all season long. Vernon, who recorded two sacks against the Steelers, leads the team with eight sacks. He now has recorded a sack in five consecutive games. Pierre-Paul did not register a sack against Pittsburgh, 5.5 of his seven sacks this season have come in the last three games.

Pierre-Paul and Vernon combined for 10 tackles and two quarterback hits, but no sacks in Week 1. New York did not record a sack in the game.

Dallas’ offensive line is one of the best in the league. The Cowboys did surrender three sacks to the Vikings last week, and has given up seven sacks over the last four games. Overall, the Cowboys have permitted the fifth fewest sacks (18) and only 48 hits on the quarterback.

Giants’ Odell Beckham will have more catches and yards than Cowboys’ Dez Bryant

Beckham is one of the top receivers in the game. The 24-year-old exploded for nine receptions in the second half of the game against Pittsburgh, finishing with 10 catches — on 16 targets — for 100 yards. It was his second double-digit receiving game in the last four contests.

Beckham ranks fourth in the league in receptions ( 75), fourth in receiving yards (1,015), fourth in touchdowns (eight) and sixth in receiving yards per game (84.6).

Beckham has had relative success against the Cowboys, and may have room to work against an average Cowboys’ secondary — which will once again be without starting cornerback Morris Claiborne, according to CBS Sports. Beckham has 27 catches for 332 yards and four touchdowns in five career games against Dallas.

Bryant is expected to be a pivotal part of the Cowboys’ game plan on Sunday. Bryant is second on the team with 73 targets, despite missing three games this season. He has 21 receptions and 352 yards along with four touchdowns in the last four games. Overall, Bryant has 37 catches for 634 yards and six touchdowns this season.

New York held Bryant to one reception, on five targets, for eight yards in Week 1. The Giants are giving up the eighth most passing yards with 265.3. However, the G-Men are permitting opposing quarterbacks to complete just 59.1 percent of their passes and they have picked off 11 passes.

Dallas will be flagged more times than New York

The Cowboys have been flagged a total of 79 times this season for 652 yards, per NFL Penalty Tracker. The Giants have drawn the fifth most flags against their opponents (91) for 737 yards. Dallas was called for 10 penalties against Minnesota.

In the meanwhile, New York has been flagged the second fewest times in the league (66). And Dallas has drawn the second fewest flags on their opponents (71).

Cowboys find a way to extend winning streak

Dallas is favored by three points says oddsshark.

The Cowboys have already secured a spot in the playoffs. A win will bring Dallas a step closer to securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They are 6-0 in road games this year.

New York is currently in fifth place in the NFC playoff race. The Giants have a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a one-and-a-half game lead over the Washington Redskins. The G-Men are 5-1 at home.

[Featured Image by Andy Clayton-King/AP Image]

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Ezekiel Elliott New York Giants Eli Manning Dez Bryant
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