MetLife Stadium is set to turn into a battlefield this Thursday night, as the New York Giants host their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. The face-off promises to be a spectacle, especially given the Cowboys’ recent dominance over the Giants.
Cowboys' Recent Dominance
The Cowboys have unquestionably had the upper hand in recent encounters, securing commanding victories with scores of 40-0 and 49-17 last season. Dallas is currently riding a six-game winning streak against the Giants and has clinched the NFC East division title in two of the last three seasons. However, despite their favorable history against New York, the Cowboys are keen to end a two-game losing streak that has cast a shadow over their otherwise stellar performance.
Mixed Results on the Road
While Dallas has displayed formidable strength, their performance as visitors has been mediocre with an away record of 5-5 since the beginning of 2023. In contrast, the Giants have a 4-5 record at home at MetLife Stadium since the start of last season, signaling that both teams face their own set of challenges heading into this game.
Key Players to Watch
Leading the charge for Dallas will be quarterback Dak Prescott, who has an impressive career passer rating of 101.6 against the Giants in 13 starts. Prescott’s record against New York includes completing 64% of his passes for 3,433 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. However, this season has been less stellar for Prescott, his passer rating dipping to 85.8 with a 60.7% completion rate for 851 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Joining Prescott in the offensive assault will be wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb boasts 38 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants in six games. His standout performance last season saw him catch 11 passes for 151 yards in their November 12 matchup.
The spotlight will also be on rookie Malik Nabers, who leads the Cowboys this season with 23 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Nabers has shown a knack for big plays, with six receptions of 20 or more yards and 127 yards after the catch, converting 14 first downs.
Giants Seek Home Redemption
On the other side, Wan'Dale Robinson will be a key player for the Giants. Robinson has 15 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown this season. Most notably, he caught seven passes for 61 yards in the Giants' recent 21-15 victory over Cleveland. However, his longest reception this season is a modest 20 yards, with 63 yards after the catch, indicating a potential area for improvement.
The Giants secured their last home victory over the Cowboys back in 2020 with a 23-19 win, a stat they'll be eager to improve upon this Thursday.
Betting Odds and Expectations
Unsurprisingly, the Cowboys are 5.5-point favorites for the game. The projected over/under for total points scored stands at 45.5, reflecting an expectation for a high-scoring encounter. Betting models, which boast a track record of well over $7,000 for $100 bettors on top-rated NFL picks, have proven their reliability with a 188-130 record, including an impressive 42-22 streak since Week 7 of the 2022 season.
As anticipation builds for this fierce divisional showdown, fans will undoubtedly be treated to a high-stakes, action-packed game that could set the tone for the rest of the season for both teams.