On Thursday night, MetLife Stadium will set the stage for an electrifying NFC East clash between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. The rivalry between these two teams is storied, and recent encounters have been particularly lopsided in favor of the Cowboys.
Last season, the Cowboys decimated the Giants with decisive victories of 40-0 and 49-17. This season, Dallas is riding a six-game winning streak against New York and is looking to extend that dominance further. However, the Cowboys are also eager to snap a two-game losing streak and reclaim their status as a formidable contender.
Dallas' Recent Performance
In the past three seasons, the Cowboys have clinched the NFC East division title twice. Despite this success, they have shown some vulnerability away from home, holding a 5-5 road record since the beginning of 2023. Quarterback Dak Prescott remains a central figure for Dallas, boasting an impressive career passer rating of 101.6 against the Giants in 13 starts. Over these games, Prescott has completed 64% of his passes for 3,433 yards and 25 touchdowns, offset by just six interceptions.
This season, though, Prescott's performance has been somewhat muted. He has a passer rating of 85.8, completing 60.7% of his attempts for 851 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb also has a history of performing well against the Giants, with 38 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns over six games. Last season’s game in November saw Lamb make 11 catches for 151 yards.
Rookie Malik Nabers has emerged as a top target for Prescott this season. Nabers leads the team with 23 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He has been particularly effective in making explosive plays, with six receptions of 20 or more yards and 127 yards after the catch, resulting in 14 first-down conversions.
Giants Seek Revenge
On the other side of the field, the Giants are riding the momentum of a 21-15 victory over Cleveland. However, their home performance at MetLife Stadium has been less than stellar, with a 4-5 record since the start of the previous season. Their last home win against the Cowboys dates back to 2020, when they eked out a 23-19 victory.
Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson has shown promise this season with 15 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. Robinson’s longest reception this season is 20 yards, and he has accumulated 63 yards after the catch. His performance was particularly notable in the latest win over Cleveland, where he caught seven passes for 61 yards.
Betting Odds and Predictions
The Cowboys are favored by 5.5 points for this upcoming game. With the over/under for total points scored set at 45.5, analysts and fans are gearing up for what could be a high-scoring affair. The betting model that has been employed is noteworthy, yielding over $7,000 for $100 bettors on top-rated NFL picks. Its impressive track record of 188-130 includes a 42-22 streak since Week 7 of the 2022 season.
As both teams prepare for this critical matchup, the Giants will be looking to break their losing streak against the Cowboys while Dallas aims to stabilize their season and continue their recent successes against New York. The stage is set for a captivating showdown, with both teams motivated to assert their dominance in the NFC East.