Kickoff: 1:15 p.m. | Caliente line: Cowboys by 31/2 | TV: Ch. 6
Joe Pascale, a longtime NFL assistant coach and former Chargers defensive coordinator, breaks down the game of the week:
COWBOYS OFFENSE VS. GIANTS DEFENSE
Overview: Dallas is averaging 28.1 points a game, second in the NFL, and the key is balance. The Cowboys offense is fifth in rushing and sixth in passing. QB Tony Romo is 4-1 since becoming a starter, with a league-best 110.8 rating. The Giants counter with a defense on the mend. Expected back are CB Sam Madison, LB Brandon Short and most importantly DE Osi Umienyiora, the team leader in sacks. Pro Bowl DE Micheal Strahan is a long shot to return.
Inside scoop: The Giants' strength is against the run, and they'll need to be dominant here in order to make Romo more predictable in the passing game. A healthier front four and a well-timed and -designed blitz package is needed to counter the Dallas passing game. Two problems for New York: the deep threat of Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, and the stability of Dallas' offensive line, which has started every game together this year.
Advantage: Cowboys
GIANTS OFFENSE VS. COWBOYS DEFENSE
Overview: In the Giants' three-game losing streak, Eli Manning completed only 50.5 percent of his passes and threw six INTs for a 46.4 rating. Dallas enters with a much-improved defense that hasn't given up more than 14 points in its past three games. It ranks fourth in total defense, fourth vs. the rush and 11th vs. the pass.
Inside scoop: Unless Manning plays better, the Giants have little chance. The Cowboys know they cannot allow Tiki Barber (114 yards) and WR Plaxico Burress (catches of 55 and 44 yards) to have the kind of day they had in Dallas. The Cowboys have a secondary with the size and speed to shut down the Giants WRs. They also have a physical front seven that will concentrate on Barber and the running game on early downs and try to pressure Manning into mistakes.
Advantage: Cowboys
KICKING GAME
Overview: Dallas cut PK Mike Vanderjagt this week and signed Martin Gramatica. The Giants' Jay Feeley is 14-for-18. Neither team has distinguished itself in the return game.
Advantage: Even
INTANGIBLES
1) Dallas leads the NFL in time of possession at 33:00 minutes. 2) Dallas is second in the NFL on third-down conversions, the Giants are 30th in stopping third downs. 3) New York could be helped by a hostile home crowd and swirling winds in Giants Stadium.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Giants 21
Other matchups
Analysis by Jerry Magee, staff writer
4 STARS
SEAHAWKS AT BRONCOS
Kickoff: 5:15 p.m. (Ch. 39)
Caliente line: Broncos by 31/2
Matchup: Desperation generally attaches to teams changing QBs at this point in the season. Mike Shanahan should not be desperate; at 7-4, his Denver team is just two games back in the AFC West. Yet here is Shanahan, taking the football from Jake Plummer and handing it to rookie Jay Cutler. Shanahan is leaving himself open to the second guess. He also could be saving his season.
3 STARS
JETS AT PACKERS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Pick
Matchup: Lambeau Field is not the fortress it once represented for the Packers. Quite the opposite. The advantages here are with the surprising New Yorkers, who at 6-5 are a playoff factor. They have allowed an average of only 12 points in their last three games and Chad Pennington continues to perform creditably.
COLTS AT TITANS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Colts by 71/2
Matchup: One of these teams just finished a game with a 21-point final quarter. The surprise is that it wasn't the Colts. Credit the Titans and how they concluded in their 24-21 conquest of the Giants. Vince Young isn't Peyton Manning, but he has been effective. The first time these teams got together, Indy won 14-13.
2 STARS
VIKINGS AT BEARS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Bears by 9
Matchup: Rex Grossman has thrown 11 of his 14 INTs on the road, where the Bears have been for the past three weeks. At home, Chicago has outscored its opponents by an average of 33-12. When the teams played in Week 3 in Minnesota, the Bears won 19-16.
49ERS AT SAINTS
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (Ch. 6)
Caliente line: Saints by 7
Matchup: Drew Brees has thrown for at least 300 yards in five straight games. For all the yards, however, the Saints have won only twice in those five games. They likely will be challenged by the 49ers, who are a postseason possibility at 5-6.
JAGUARS AT DOLPHINS
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Caliente line: Pick
Matchup: They began 1-6, but the Dolphins have achieved four straight victories with strong defense, Ronnie Brown's rushing and Joey Harrington's passing. One more triumph and Miami (5-6) would be placed for a playoff run. The Dolphins would seem favorably positioned here. Jacksonville has lost four straight.
1 STAR
BUCS AT STEELERS
Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.
Caliente line: Steelers by 8
Matchup: “Pitiful” was the word Bill Cowher had for the Steelers after they permitted Ben Roethlisberger to be sacked nine times by Baltimore. The Super Bowl champs would have to win three straight just to get to .500. After the Bucs, they have games against Cleveland and Carolina. They have a history of strong finishes, but the Super Bowl almost certainly is going to have a new champion.
CARDINALS AT RAMS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Rams by 61/2
Matchup: Matt Leinart has been heard from. He threw for 405 yards last week against Minnesota. It was the fifth most prolific performance by a quarterback this season. It's something for the Cardinals to cherish. They don't have much else.
FALCONS AT REDSKINS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Redskins by 2
Matchup: Michael Vick has five fingers, one of which he raised to an Atlanta crowd after it expressed its dissatisfaction with his 9-for-24 effort against New Orleans. Vick subsequently has expressed his contrition. He likely was frustrated. Atlanta has lost four straight.
CHIEFS AT BROWNS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Chiefs by 51/2
Matchup: The Browns deal better with runners than they do with passers, but hardly anybody has been able to handle Larry Johnson, who has rushed for 745 yards in his last six games.
LIONS AT PATRIOTS
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Caliente line: Patriots by 131/2
Matchup: None. The Lions have the blahs. They are 0-5 against the numbers away from Detroit and have averaged just 11 points in their last three appearances. The Patriots go to Miami next week. It will be a test. This one isn't.
TEXANS AT RAIDERS
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Caliente line: Raiders by 3
Matchup: It's the first time the Raiders have been favored this year. It might not be the last time. After this, they have Cleveland, St. Louis, Kansas City and the Jets. Not the most formidable array. The best thing that can be said of the Texans is that they still are full of fight.
