Let’s flash back to January 2nd, 2012.   It was on that night that Cowboys fans along with a national TV audience witnessed NY Giants Wide receiver Victor Cruz’s 74 yard TD catch and run, leaving a past his prime CB Terrence Newman and the Cowboys secondary behind him,  all the way to Indianapolis and a stunning NY Giants Super Bowl XLVI victory.

It is now nine months later, and the rematch is set for the Meadowlands for Wednesday night back in prime time where it belongs, only this time the Dallas Cowboys have added some much needed secondary help to guarantee Rob Ryan’s defense won’t make that same mistake twice. The Cowboys added the CB prizes of both free agency and the April draft to their often out matched secondary in Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, and now have the weapons to keep Giants WR Victor Cruz in much needed Cruz Control.    

This game will come down to three key factors, (1) The Dallas secondary needs to flex its new muscles and control Eli Manning and the Giants WR’s.  The Cowboys need to use press man coverage and not allow Cruz to get the release he was so familiar with when he faced the out manned cowboy secondary in late 2011 and early 2012.  Carr should mirror Cruz and follow him in the slot to give Dallas its best matchup to combat the Giants #1 playmaker.  (2)  DeMarco Murray must run, catch screen passes and control the clock.  Many so called experts forget that Murray missed both Cowboy/Giants matchups last year and he is a huge difference maker.  With Murray in the lineup the Cowboys can run outside and use quick screens to slow down that awesome New York Giant pass rush. (3) Pressure Manning with OLB DeMarcus Ware and others.  Eli has lost his two 3^rd down security blankets this year with Mario Manningham in SF and Jake Ballard in NE.  Who will step up as the Giants clutch 3^rd down target is still an unknown, and the Cowboys need to exploit that fact all night by bringing pressure especially on 3^rd down.

Add it all up, and this Landry Hat Writer is calling the Upset.  The Cowboys will get their much anticipated revenge on the Giants in the Meadowlands, albeit nine months late, but hey it will be a great start to the New 2012 Season. Dallas 27, NYG 21.

Jan 31, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Giants tackle Tony Ugoh (70) answers questions from Pick Boy. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

While it’s great in one sense that the NFC East – a division many pundits called the weakest in the NFL this season – is represented in the big game, it has left many Cowboy fans wondering what might have been.  The Cowboys were literally one Tony Romo overthrow from eliminating the Giants in week 14.  That doesn’t necessarily mean our Cowboys would be representing the NFC in Indianapolis had Miles Austin caught that ball – the weaknesses on this team are too glaring and too numerous to believe they would have made a similar run. But, it wouldn’t have been the Giants.

So, how is it that twice in the last 5 years (2008-2012) that the Giants have appeared in a Super Bowl when it has been 16 years since the Cowboys made an appearance?  It’s a familiar refrain, but I think it relates directly back to our GM, or lack thereof.  To support that point, let’s take a look at just the last 4 drafts between the Cowboys and Giants. (more…)

So, in that vein, instead of detailing the lastest mock draft for the 100th time, let’s have some fun and predict who will be the Cowboys 2012 MVP!  My candidates are:

• Tony Romo – Tony is a polarizing figure among NFL fans these days – people seem to either love him like a cult figure or blame him for every Cowboys shortcoming.  The fact is – despite the 8-8 record, no playoff berth, and some agonizing losses directly attributable to his mistakes - Tony is coming off arguably his best year in the NFL statistically.  He achieved a 102.5 QBR, 36 TDs, and only 10 interceptions while racking up 4,184 passing yards.  He played in all 16 games – at times seriously hurt (punctured lung and fractured ribs) - coming off a year in 2010 where he only played in 6 games before breaking his collarbone.  Tony is far from perfect but if statistics mean anything, he could be coming into his prime and just needs a better team around him.  If the team can solidify the offensive line and keep him on his feet (something less than the 36 sacks surrendered this year), I think 2012 could be a year where Romo gets the “can’t win the big game” monkey off his back. (more…)