Cowboys, Giants headed in opposite
Six weeks ago, the New York Giants seemed on the way to the NFC East title. The Dallas Cowboys were reeling. They’re in opposite places when they meet Sunday at the Meadowlands.
The turnaround actually started with New York’s 36-22 win in Dallas, when Tony Romo replaced Drew Bledsoe at halftime as Dallas quarterback. The Giants, on the other hand, lost defenders LaVar Arrington, Osi Umenyiora, Brandon Short and Justin Tuck to injuries in that game, the beginning of a run of aches and pains that leaves them a game behind the Cowboys in the division and on life support with their fans and media.
A win Sunday and New York (6-5) would be back even with Dallas (7-4) and hold the tiebreaker because the Giants won that game in Dallas, which showed up only sporadically on television because ESPN was too busy shilling “Dancing with the Stars” and other shows under the Disney corporate umbrella.
But it’s more than the injuries with the Giants, who last week inexplicably blew a 21-0 lead in Tennessee in the last 10 minutes and lost 24-21, a historic meltdown that has the pundits writing off everyone involved – from Tom Coughlin to Eli Manning.
The pundits forget this is NFL 2006, when things change almost instantaneously.
The Giants hope their season was changed by a players’ meeting held on Monday.
“It was an upbeat meeting,” said center Shaun O’Hara who knows things can turned around – he played at Rutgers when it finished 0-11 or 1-10. “It was a good meeting. It was just what we needed.”
But that was followed by the latest circus, Michael Strahan calling out Plaxico Burress on a radio show and then complaining about the reporting.
You can bet Dallas is taking nothing for granted, even with Romo the NFL’s new “hot quarterback” and the Cowboys 4-1 since that loss to New York.
On Monday, Bill Parcells cut kicker Mike Vanderjagt and replaced him with equally problematic veteran Martin Gramatica.
That’s a typical Tuna move, a reminder that no one is safe if he doesn’t produce.
Beyond that, the Giants are finally getting healthier. Umenyiora and Short might play this week and even Strahan could be back.
“I think they’ll rally up and I think that they’re still our main competition in the division, without question,” Parcells says. “They beat us pretty badly down here the first time. They played well and we played poorly, and the combination of that made it very one-sided. I’m expecting a very tough game.”
Cincinnati opened the weekend Thursday night with a 13-7 home victory over Baltimore.
Seattle (7-4)
at Denver (7-4)
Jay Cutler makes his debut as Denver’s quarterback, replacing Jake Plummer, an indication coach Mike Shanahan thinks the future may be more important than the present. For all the success Romo and Philip Rivers have had this year, they sat for at least a couple of years. Cutler is a rookie and rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle.
“We understand that there is always a process involved,” Shanahan says of Cutler. “I like the way he has practiced, I like the way he handles himself and I think he gives us the best chance to win.”
With Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander back, the Seahawks are in position to win the NFC West, two games ahead of the Rams and 49ers. They also have a shot at a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Minnesota (5-6)
at Chicago (9-2)
Despite their loss in Foxborough last week, the Bears will clinch the NFC North with a win. Yes, it’s been a foregone conclusion since before the season, but this will make it official, with home-field advantage in the NFC soon to come.
The Vikings almost beat the Bears at home, losing 19-16. But they’ve slid since, breaking a four-game losing streak last week with a 31-26 win over Arizona, hardly a victory to brag about.
Carolina (6-5)
at Philadelphia (5-6)
The Panthers are typical of the NFC’s “elite” teams – just as they look like they’re on their way, they stumble, as they did in Washington last week. The struggling running game has led to more forced passes by Jake Delhomme and more heat on Delhomme in Charlotte.
Philadelphia’s problems are worse than that, starting with the torn ACL that has Donovan McNabb out for the year. The defense hasn’t held up either, allowing the Colts to rush for 271 yards last week.
Indianapolis (10-1)
at Tennessee (4-7)
An Indy win clinches the AFC South (another foregone conclusion). The Colts already are practicing for the playoffs by using the run rather than Peyton Manning’s arm. No wonder fantasy folks dislike Manning, and vice versa.
Yes, the Giants blew the game to the Titans last week. But Vince Young also demonstrated why he’s likely to be a force for many years. Not a conventional QB, but a force.
San Diego (9-2)
at Buffalo (5-6)
This game – more specifically the weather – might be a problem for the Chargers, who would love home-field advantage in the playoffs or at least a first-round bye. The long range forecast for Sunday: a balmy 32 with a few snow showers, although in Buffalo terms, “snow showers” can be a euphemism for a blizzard.
A small kudo for Dick Jauron and his boss, Marv Levy, who have built a competitive team when few people thought they could.
Especially notable has been their patience with J.P. Losman, who in the last two weeks is 47-of-66 for 529 yards and three touchdowns.
Jacksonville (6-5)
at Miami (5-6)
Two teams that exemplify the wacky nature of the NFL. The Dolphins started 1-6 and have won four straight, in part because DE Jason Taylor has become an offensive force (two TDs) as well as a defensive one. Jacksonville can win at home against everyone but Houston, but it’s 1-4 on the road.
Maybe the Jaguars can count this as a home game; at least they don’t have to cross a state line. But they’d better win it if they want a wild-card berth.
Detroit (2-9)
at New England (8-3)
“I don’t think there are any teams that you can just show up and roll the helmets out there and expect to beat,” Tom Brady says of his opponent this week.
Maybe Tom is being kind because he played at Michigan. Or maybe he’s saying what any NFL player says to guard against overconfidence. Or maybe he’s saying it because the Lions have actually won two games (against Atlanta and Buffalo.)
But the Patriots are not a team that loses focus against decidedly inferior opponents.
San Francisco (5-6)
at New Orleans (7-4)
The 49ers are having a nice season for a team few people expected to get to five wins. This one may be a little tough, although RB Frank Gore’s sore ankle, which gave the team a scare, appears to be fine.
Drew Brees proved in Atlanta last week that he doesn’t need rookie receiver Marques Colston (we didn’t think we’d be saying that at the start of the season, did we?).
Brees has five straight 300-yard games, proving he can complete passes to anyone.
Kansas City (7-4)
at Cleveland (3-8)
The Chiefs are in pretty good shape for an AFL wild-card spot, especially with Trent Green back at quarterback and getting healthier. One thing coach Herman Edwards has fixed is the historically leaky defense.
The Browns, who had been competitive in almost all their defeats, threw in a real stinker last week in their 30-0 loss to the Bengals. Braylon Edwards showed his displeasure on the sideline and owner Randy Lerner kicked in: “It was sickening.”
New York Jets (6-5)
at Green Bay (4-7)
This is part of the “easy” finishing schedule that has Jets fans thinking playoffs.
But are the Jets so good that they can think, in Tom Brady’s words, that they can roll their helmets out and win? Coach Eric Mangini has done an excellent job with a team that was supposed to challenge for the first pick in the draft, but is certainly not a power yet.
Difficulty? Think of the gunslinger, Brett Favre, who still can light up young and unwary teams.
Atlanta (5-6)
at Washington (4-7)
Jason Campbell got his first win as an NFL quarterback last week for the Redskins, primarily because the underachieving defense woke up – especially safety Sean Taylor.
Underachieving doesn’t begin to describe the Falcons, who have lost four straight. It especially applies to the receiving corps, which may be one reason Michael Vick is so frustrated.
Arizona (2-9)
at St. Louis (5-6)
The Rams won the road version of this series because their former QB, Kurt Warner, fumbled a snap late in the game. Now the Cardinals start Matt Leinart, who got his first win two weeks ago and threw for 405 yards in a loss last week in Minnesota.
How wacky is the NFC? The Rams had lost five in a row before squeezing by San Francisco last week and still remain in the wild-card race. Undeservedly so for a team that can’t beat anyone with a winning record.
Houston (3-8)
at Oakland (2-9)
The Raiders scared the Chargers in San Diego last week, then fired offensive coordinator Tom Walsh. Probably not Art Shell’s decision – look to a guy named Al who watches from on high.
Houston is 2-0 against Jacksonville and 1-8 against everyone else. Bodes well for the Raiders.