Sportbet Sunday Football

A week after the “Mid-Year Super Bowl,” won by the New England Patriots over the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL season returns back to earth a little bit.  But, that doesn’t mean it isn’t bringing some good games with them in the process.  The Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will meet to determine who will be top dog in the NFC East.  With the Washington Redskins nipping on their heels at 5-3, every win, especially one against a divisional foe, is important in this talent laden division. 

After dropping the first two games of the season, the Giants have won six games in a row.  They are returning from a bye week, but they needed the rest.  Prior to that they traveled across the Atlantic to meet the Miami Dolphins in the first regular season game played outside the USA in the history of the NFL.  The Giants won that won against the no win Miami Dolphins, but it was a lot tougher then expected, sneaking out of there with a 13-10 win.  Nevertheless, they got the job done, and will be happy to be playing at home this week.  Leading the Giants is quarterback Eli Manning.  Manning is off to a so-so start, completing 58.2 percent of his passes with 13 TD’s and nine interceptions.  His completion percentage is actually about four percent up from his career average, but if they want to make a serious run in the playoffs they will need better performance than that.  Since Tiki Barber retired somewhat unexpectedly last year the Giants have had a void at running back.  But Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward have filled in nicely, compiling almost nearly identical stats.  Both players are right at 450 yards rushing for the year, and have five touchdowns each.

The Cowboys continue to roll, losing only once to the undefeated New England Patriots.  Quarterback Tony Romo is fresh off a new deal that will keep him in Dallas for a long time, and is already coming close to breaking some of Troy Aikman’s records, including most 300 yard passing games in a Cowboy uniform (8). Romo’s 100.4 quarterback rating consists of 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.  Romo has also done well keeping plays alive on his feet.  While he doesn’t have a lot of yards rushing, he is able to run out of the pocket, trying to find an open player.  Usually that open player has been Terrell Owens.  Owens is his usual productive self, catching 44 balls for six touchdowns.  The biggest story of the year has been tight end Jason Witten.  Witten has 45 catches for five touchdowns, among the best for tight ends in the NFL.

The Cowboys are 4-0 on the road this year, but the Giants are also on a nice streak.  Eli Manning has a tendency to start off slow and it is my firm belief he won’t be able to get away with that against the Cowboys.  I’m taking the Cowboys in this one by the score of 24-14, the Plaxico Burress of the Giants catching a TD for the Giants.