Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo (L) and his Giant counterpart Eli Manning during an NFL season-opening game. (Photo : Reuters)
One of the most highly-anticipated games of this year's Sunday Night Football is this match between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.
Held at their home field of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Cowboys are favored to win this matchup especially with their superior offensive line and an offense anchored on the sharpshooting four-time Pro Bowler Tony Romo and two-time Pro Bowler wideout Dez Bryant.
DeMarco Murray is no longer in the Dallas backfield, but the replacements, Julius Randle and Darren McFadden, are keen on surpassing whatever it is that the former did last season. Plus, tight end Jason Witten is expected to "burn the Giants again", as per Bleacher Report.
New York surely has an efficient offense as well, especially since two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning is at the helm. He also has his own Pro Bowl pass catcher Odell Beckham Jr., but the other wide receiver, Victor Cruz, remains questionable with a calf injury, as reported by ESPN.
However, the issue about Tom Coughlin's squad had always been its flimsy defense that tend to give up a lot of points to its opponents.
The last time these two teams met, Dallas won a high-scoring game, 31-28, and the theme is generally going to be the same this time around. Two powerful offenses converge once more with the defense being the key on which team will outlast the other one.
Prediction: Cowboys win, 28-24
New York Giants starting lineup
Offense: Manning (QB), Jennings (RB), Whitlock (FB), Beckham (WR1), Harris (WR2), Fells (TE), Flowers (LT), Pugh (LG), Richburg (C), Schwartz (RG), Newhouse (RT)
Defense: Jenkins (DE), Kuhn (DT), Hankins (DT), Ayers (DE), Kennard (OLB), Beason (MLB), Thomas (OLB), Rodgers-Cromartie (CB1), Amukamara (CB2), Collins (SS), Taylor (FS)
Dallas Cowboys starting lineup
Offense: Romo (QB), Randle (RB), Clutts (FB), Bryant (WR1), Williams (WR2), Witten (TE), Smith (LT), Leary (LG), Frederick (C), Martin (RG), Free (RT)
Defense: Lawrence (DE), Crawford (DT), Hayden (DT), Mincey (DE), Lee (OLB), Hitchens (MLB), Wilber (OLB), Carr (CB1), Claiborne (CB2), Church (SS), Wilcox (FS)
