Must-win, win-and-you’re-in, and there must be other ones out there, but they are beyond me, because I usually stick with the obvious clichés.
But that is what is what is happening for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in the Meadowlands in Week 17 of this the 2011-2012 season.
It boils down to one game a full 60 minutes of football.
But in a year that there wasn’t (supposedly) expectations for this team—there is.
Fact is—there should be. This team is far better than it’s 8-7 record, but here is the thing—so are the New York Giants. So it is is kind of poetic justice that both of these teams are sitting where they are today going into Week 17 for this NFL season.
In in this week of uncertainty for both teams, the focus has to be on defense. What team has the best defense is going to win this game in Sunday.
So step in Pro-Bowlers DeMarcus Ware, and Jay Ratliff for the Cowboys, and others such as Sean Lee, and Anthony Spencer. However their biggest concern for this Cowboys team has to be the play of their cornerbacks. One in particular—Terrence Newman.
Normally a solid guy on the defensive side of the ball, but injuries sure have affected his play this season as qwell as last, and it hasn’t been too good for the past three weeks for this cornerback of the Cowboys.
There has been even been speculation of Newman’s future of being a Cowboys next season on the local sports talk radios shows, but he is here now and it seems their best option right now.
Mike Jenkins has been a player who has been injured as well, but has had more success than Newman even off injury.
The New York Giants defense has been stellar for the past two weeks. They have held the Jets to 14 points in Week 16, and the Redskins to 23 points in Week 15.
In Week 14 the Cowboys played the Giants at Cowboys Stadium, and they Giants defeated the Cowboys 37-34. The NFC battles are exactly that—battles.
Now the “oh-no news” about Tony Romo. Everyone knows he hurt his hand against the Eagles on Sunday.
In a text to Chris Mortenson of ESPN on Monday night, Romo said if it isn’t broke he plays. Romo has already played with injured ribs, and has played well, but that isn’t his hand where gripping is going to have to be a concern for Romo.
After seeing Stephen McGee at the QB position for the Cowboys on Sunday in Week 16 it is painfully obvious the Cowboys will need Romo to start in Week 17. After McGee’s performance of 24/38 for 182 yards, and one TD, in a back up role, and it was uglier than the stats seems to suggest. The Cowboys are going to have to draft a QB to get give McGee some competition at the QB position if Jon Kitna isn’t back next season.
The Cowboys are dealing with a plethora of injuries outside of Tony Romo.
Will Felix Jones be ready to go because of a hamstring injury? DeMarcus Ware with a neck stinger, and Jay Ratliff with a ankle injury—how will those injury affect them. Sean Lee also with a hammy injury says he will play and is ready. Mike Jenkins with a neck injury.
Even Montrae Holland was placed on IR. It looks like the walking wounded in Dallas.
The Giants seem to be ready to go with vital personel raeady to go. And it seems as if DE Osi Umenyiora, who injured his ankle on November 28th against the Saints, is ready to go in a couple of weeks in the playoffs if the Ginats are able to defeat the Cowboys in Week 17, according to reports from Pat Johnston of thr SB Network.
Mario Manningham has been heard saying he is hoping to be back for the Cowboys game. There have been questions if Manningham will be able to give it a go. Eli Manning would love to have another option or maybe even just a threat on the field.
So as I said, defense will be the determining factor on what may or may not happen on the field.
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