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In week 2 of the Dallas Cowboys 2009 season, they opened their new stadium against the division rival, New York Giants. In that game, the Giants came in and gave the Cowboys their first loss in the new stadium, 33-31.

The Giants was the best team on that day, as Tony Romo threw three interceptions that night, and Eli Manning torched the Cowboys secondary. Cowboys did have a chance to win that game, but the defense could not keep the Giants from scoring at the end of the game.

This week, the Cowboys travel to New York to play for the last time in Giants Stadium, as they will be opening their new stadium, Meadowlands Stadium, next year. The scenarios have changed for each team since that game as the Giant went 4-4 and the Cowboys went 6-2 since that game.

The Cowboys still have a lot to do if they have their eyes on the playoffs. The first step is to win this game against the Giants. Each team should be familiar with each other, since they play each other twice. The deciding factor, which team will be able to win the running game and which team can stop the run.

Brandon Jacobs hasn’t been playing as well as he has in years past when he had over five yards per carry. Ahmad Bradshaw has been limited with an ankle/foot injury, so the Giants running attack is slowed down a bit. The Cowboys defense will need to control the line of scrimmage and maintain their lanes to keep the Giants running game to a minimum. You don’t hear much of our defensive lineman, but they are making the plays not seen and recognized. Igor Olshansky has been a pretty good pick up, he does have 29 tackles, Jay Ratliff has 31, and Marcus Spears has 16.

The Cowboys trio of backs, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice will need to pick up their game and pound the Giants defense this week. The line has been pretty good lately with Doug Free in the line up, now let’s see how he does against Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, or Osi Umenyiora. I am not sure who will be playing because I heard that this week, Umenyiora and Fred Robbins were demoted to second team during practice. Will they be starting on Sunday?

I think Mike Jenkins, Terence Newman and the rest of the secondary will be better prepared to face Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks this time around. What should help them out is the front seven getting pressure on Eli Manning. He does have a stress reaction injury to his foot, but he says that shouldn’t affect his performance. I want to see him running for his life from DeMarcus Ware and company to see if constant pressure will affect his performance.

For the Cowboys to be successful in the passing game, they will need to protect Tony Romo to give him time to find the open receiver. The Giants secondary has been suspect this season, they have been hit with injuries since the last game. The tight ends, Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, could have a field day against these linebackers/safeties. Miles Austin was not a factor in the last game, so I am sure there will be more opportunities for him this time around.

Justin Tuck and Flozell Adams may face each other again as well. It was Flozell that tripped Tuck that hurt his shoulder in the first game.

Then you have the loud mouth, Brandon Jacobs, but I must say that I haven’t heard him spout off at the mouth like he has done before. But he has always hated the Cowboys even as a kid. Not that I would have wanted him, but I wander what it would have been like if he went to the Cowboys instead of the Giants.

Listed below is the official injury report. Not sure when it happened (I am guessing during one of the practices), but DeMarcus Ware has a fractured wrist. He will be playing, but how will that affect his play?