MetLife Stadium is set to play host to an NFC East showdown on Thursday night as the Dallas Cowboys clash with the New York Giants. The Cowboys, currently riding a six-game winning streak against their division rivals, enter the game with historical dominance in their favor. In their last two encounters, the Cowboys decimated the Giants with scores of 40-0 and 49-17, adding extra weight to what is already a heated rivalry.
Team Performance
Dallas has a strong recent pedigree, having secured the NFC East division title in two of the last three seasons. However, they find themselves aiming to snap a two-game losing streak. Their road record since the start of 2023 stands at 5-5, indicating mixed fortunes away from home. In contrast, the Giants have a slightly below-average 4-5 home record at MetLife Stadium since last season, which may offer a glimmer of hope for the home side.
Quarterback Showdown
Much of the attention will be on Dak Prescott, who boasts a stellar career passer rating of 101.6 against the Giants in 13 starts. His impressive stats include a 64% completion rate for 3,433 yards and 25 touchdowns, alongside six interceptions. However, this season has been a different story for Prescott, as his passer rating has dipped to 85.8. He has completed 60.7% of his attempts for 851 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions so far.
The Giants will need to watch out for Prescott's favorite targets, particularly CeeDee Lamb and rookie sensation Malik Nabers. Lamb has historically excelled against the Giants, amassing 38 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns in just six games. Last year alone, Lamb caught 11 passes for 151 yards in their November 12 matchup. On the other hand, Nabers leads the Cowboys this season with 23 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. His knack for making big plays is evident with six receptions of 20 or more yards and 127 yards after the catch, converting 14 of those plays into first downs.
Giants' Resilience
On the flip side, the Giants come into this game on the back of a morale-boosting 21-15 victory over Cleveland. One of their standout performers has been Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson has 15 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown this season. His longest reception is 20 yards, and he has accumulated 63 yards after the catch. In their latest win against Cleveland, Robinson had a standout performance with seven catches for 61 yards.
Despite their current form and recent setbacks against Dallas, the Giants can draw strength from their last home victory over the Cowboys, which came in 2020 with a 23-19 result. They will need all the support from their home crowd as they attempt to overturn their fortunes against a formidable opponent.
Betting Insights
From a betting perspective, the Cowboys are 5.5-point favorites heading into the game. The over/under for total points scored is set at 45.5. For those following betting models, there's significant credibility in the picks—there's a proven track record with $100 bettors amassing well over $7,000 on top-rated NFL picks. The model currently stands at 188-130, including a strong 42-22 streak since Week 7 of the 2022 season.
As the Cowboys and Giants prepare to renew their rivalry under the bright lights of MetLife Stadium, all eyes will be on whether Dallas can continue their dominance or if New York can script an upset. With high stakes and historical context, this NFC East battle promises to be a thrilling encounter.