Since the New York Giants lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 24-17, on September 5 at MetLife Stadium, both teams have gone in different directions. Yet, all roads have led back to Dallas, where the Giants and Cowboys will meet in a rematch on Sunday, October 28 (4:25 p.m. EDT on FOX). Here are the keys to victory for the G-Men, who are 3-0 at Cowboys Stadium since it opened in 2009.
All Four -- The Giants have won five of their last six games, but haven't done it the easy way. New York fell far behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns before storming back to win and caught lightning in a bottle to beat the Washington Redskins. Granted, all of those games were at home, where the Giants have a history of playing down to the competition, but the Giants have to show up for all four quarters to beat Dallas on the road.
Safeguard Eli -- Manning was sacked three times in the first game of the season. He's been sacked a total of two times in the last six games. Thus, the O-line must keep Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware off Manning, who leads the National Football League in passing yards with 2,109. Spencer and Ware have combined for 9.5 of the Cowboys' 13 sacks this season. Manning has thrown for 1,036 yards with eight touchdowns and been sacked once in his three games at Cowboys Stadium.
Contain Romo -- DeMarco Murray, who ran for 131 yards against the Giants on Opening Night, is not expected to play and backup Felix Jones is banged up. So Romo and his play-making receivers will try to win this game for the Cowboys. Romo, who is a master at extending plays, burned the Giants for 307 yards and three TDs in the first game of the season. The G-Men can't let that happen again, so the pressure is on Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara to hold down their corner spots.
Adam Martini is a freelance sports writer who proudly wears his Rodney Hampton jersey on Sundays during the football season. He grew up in Queens, N.Y. rooting for the Giants despite being surrounded by Jets fans. Adam follows back Giants fans on Twitter @PegCitySports.
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