Cowboys vs Giants: Key matchups and X-factors to watch

Key Offensive and Defensive X-Factors

Offensive X-Factor Player: Tony Pollard

The Cowboys need to get Tony Pollard going and what better way to do that than against a Giants team ranked 25th in rushing yards and 29th in yards per carry average this season. Pollard for his part needs to start hitting the hole and stop trying to studder step, last season he was a see the hole hit the hole rusher. He needs to trust his instincts and he needs to bounce it outside he needs to just do it instead of just looking for a lane and picking up two and three yards an attempt.

Much like the Cowboys offensive line running blocking needs to improve Pollard's decision making when things breakdown needs to improve as well. This might be the game that gets both groups back on track at a time when the games down the stretch become more crucial.

Defensive X-Factor Player: Johnathan Hankins

The Giants' undersized center John Michael Schmitz to this point hasn't been able to control the bigger and stronger defensive tackles in his first season. That bodes well for Cowboys defensive tackle Hankins and his ability to control the line of scrimmage in order to stop the Giants' biggest offensive threat, Saquon Barkley. If Hankins can impose his will on Schmitz it will make things a lot easier on the Cowboys' defense and tougher on the quarterback Tommy DeVito. I see Hankins having a big game this weekend one that will help this defense start rolling.

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