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Giants vs. Cowboys game day: Facts, stats and analysis

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The New York Giants have an opportunity to make Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones eat his words Sunday. More importantly, they have a chance to get to 6-2 at the season's halfway mark and enter the second half of the season with control of the NFC East.

Here is a breakdown of Sunday's game.

The Basic Stuff

What: Giants (5-2) at Cowboys (3-3)
When: Sunday, Oct. 28, 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: Cowboys Stadium
TV: FOX -- Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver
Radio: Giants Radio Network (WFAN -- 660 AM)
Line: Giants -2

[Related: SB Nation game preview]

Key Players

Giants

1. Eli Manning -- Giants vs. Cowboys always comes down to Manning vs. Tony Romo. Which guys makes the plays at the end?

2. Hakeem Nicks -- He says he is healthier than he has been all season. That could be bad news for Dallas.

3. Prince Amukamara -- He missed the first game with a high ankle sprain. The Giants' secondary is a much different place with Amukamara and Jayron Hosley playing instead of Michael Coe and Justin Tryon.

Cowboys

1. Tony Romo -- See what I said about Manning.

2. DeMarcus Ware -- The Giants' first priority on offense has always got to be to find, and control, Dallas's premier pass rusher.

3. Dan Connor -- He will be replacing the injured Sean Lee. How will the Cowboys' defense change as a result?

[Cowboys scouting report]

Storylines

At 5-2, the Giants can hit the halfway point of the season with a clear lead in the NFC East with a victory on Sunday. A loss leaves the Giants at 5-3, and with the disadvantage of two losses to Dallas one to the Philadelphia Eagles already. The Giants are 3-0 at the JerryDome.

The Cowboys are a disappointing 3-3 after starting the season by defeating the Giants. They are without linebacker Sean Lee for the remainder of the season. During the offseason owner Jerry Jones promised fans of the Cowboys this is a game Dallas would win.

[What to watch on Sunday]

Predictions

Mike Farley, Big Blue View -- Giants, 23-20

Jared Smith, SB Nation New York -- Giants, 35-30

Quotable

"I remember that game [the season-opening loss] quite well. I don't need the film to remember those games. It just wasn't a good game. I think the first half we came out pretty good and the second half, we just stunk up the whole entire second half. So we definitely need to change as a defensive unit and we will."

-- Antrel Rolle

Injury Reports

Kenny Phillips (knee) and Rocky Bernard (quad) were ruled out by the Giants on Saturday.

Name Position Injury Practice Status Game Status
NYG
David Baas C Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Probable
Rocky Bernard DT Quadricep Limited Participation in Practice Out
Ahmad Bradshaw RB Foot Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable
Hakeem Nicks WR Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Kenny Phillips S Knee Limited Participation in Practice Out
Jacquian Williams LB Knee Did Not Participate In Practice Out
DAL
Ryan Cook G Hamstring Full Participation in Practice Probable
Phil Costa C Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Matt Johnson S Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Felix Jones RB Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Sean Lissemore DT Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
DeMarco Murray RB Foot Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Anthony Spencer LB Shoulder Full Participation in Practice Probable
DeMarcus Ware LB Illness Did Not Participate In Practice Probable

- This story originally appeared at Big Blue View