Approach to the Game – New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, December 21, 2003: The Giants have absolutely no shot at winning this game. None. Not only is Head Coach Jim Fassel officially “a dead man walking”, but the match-ups for New York in this contest are horrendous:
- With Will Allen, Will Peterson, Ralph Brown, and Kato Serwanga out, the Giants’ corners in this game will be Frank Walker, Ike Charlton (signed to the team a month ago), Ray Green (signed this week), and Reggie Stephens (signed this week). This group will have to cover Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, and Antonio Bryant. Oh-oh.
- The Cowboys love to blitz their safeties and linebackers. They have a very quick and fast defense. The offensive line of Ian Allen, Scott Peters, Chris Bober, David Diehl, and Jeff Hatch will be mentally and physically over-matched.
- The strength of the Cowboys’ defense is their secondary. Even if Ike Hilliard (knee) does play, he won’t be very effective. The Cowboys will focus their attention on Amani Toomer and the Giants’ passing game will be in deep trouble. This is a game where Jeremy Shockey, Tim Carter, and a healthy Hilliard will be sorely missed.
- Cowboy LB Dexter Coakley will have no problems covering HB Tiki Barber.
- Unlike the Giants, the Cowboys take special teams very seriously.
- Coaching…Bill Parcells versus Jim Fassel? C’mon! Just remember, it was Fassel’s bone-headed decision to leave 14 seconds on the clock at the end of regulation in the first game that was instrumental in New York’s first loss.
This game could get as ugly as the game against the Saints unless the Giants force Quincy Carter to make some stupid mistakes.