Although the Dallas Cowboys are 11-1 right now, their dream season actually started off with a nightmare back in Week 1.
In a season-opening 20-19 loss to the Giants, the Cowboys and their rookie stars looked exactly average. Ezekiel Elliott only ran for 51 yards (still a season low) and Dak Prescott only completed 55.6 percent of his passes, which still stands as his second lowest completion percentage of the season.
Basically, after that game, no one quite knew where the Cowboys' season was headed. Now we do though, and that place is the playoffs.
In Week 13, the Cowboys became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth, and if they can avenge their loss to the Giants on Sunday, the Cowboys will also become the first team to clinch a division title. A win on Sunday would make Dallas NFC East champs for just the second time since 2010.
To keep the Cowboys from clinching the division title, the Giants are going to have shut down Dallas' high-powered offense. Although New York managed to pull off that feat in Week 1, it's not going to be easy this time around.
For one, you've probably noticed the Prescott and Elliott are now completely comfortable in the Cowboys' offense. Since laying that egg in Week 1, which was understandable because they're rookies, the duo has helped the Cowboys turn into the NFL's fourth-ranked offense in terms of both yardage and points per game.
Making things even tougher for the Giants is the fact that they won't have Jason Pierre-Paul on Sunday. The Giants defensive end is likely out for the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery this week.
If the Giants defense can't slow down the Cowboys, then this game could turn into a shootout, which would be bad news for a Giants team that hasn't hit the 30-point mark all season (the Cowboys have scored at least 30 points five times in 12 games). New York's offense has been a disaster lately, and it's hard to see them keeping up in a high-scoring game.
The one upside for the Giants' offense is that the Cowboys will be missing safety J.J. Wilcox (ruled out) and could be missing defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (questionable).
The good news for the Giants is that even if they lose to the Cowboys, they'll still have either the fifth or sixth spot in the NFC wild-card race, which means they'll still control their playoff fate over the final three weeks of the season.
How to Watch
- What: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
- When: Sunday, Dec. 11, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- TV: NBC (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth on the call, Michele Tafoya on the sideline)
- Streaming: Game will be available on NBC Sports Live.
- Online: NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
- Odds: The Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites (via SportsLine)
Injury Report
Cowboys
- CB Morris Claiborne (groin) -- Out
- OT Chaz Green (back) -- Out
- S J.J. Wilcox (thigh) -- Out
- S Barry Church (forearm) -- Questionable
- DE Jack Crawford (foot) -- Questionable
- LB Justin Durant (hamstring) -- Questionable
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (back) -- Questionable
- CB Orlando Scandrick (foot) -- Questionable
- OL Tyron Smith (back) -- Questionable
Giants
- S Nat Berhe (concussion) -- Out
- LB Mark Herzlich (concussion) -- Out
- DE Jason Pierre-Paul (core Muscle) -- Out
- DT Johnathan Hankins (quadriceps) -- Questionable
- WR Dwayne Harris (ankle) -- Questionable
- DE Owa Odighizuwa (knee) -- Questionable
- G Justin Pugh (knee) -- Questionable
- CB Coty Sensabaugh (ribs) -- Questionable
Prisco's Pick
The Giants beat the Cowboys in Week 1 in Arlington, but the Cowboys have gotten much better. Even so, I think the Giants, coming off a bad loss, will find a way to slow the Cowboys' running game, which is the key to that team. Eli Manning bounces back after a bad game last week. Upset special.
Pick: Giants 28, Cowboys 21
