Tom Coughlin has never run a gimmick play in his 4 yr tenure here, so I don't know why he'd decide to start now. He's gonna beat you straight up and in the trenches- and that's going to be how they'll want to win this game. One key this week is that Andre Gurode, Cowboys pro bowl center, might be out with an injury. That'll give us the added ability to bring som pressure inside, so watch out for Justin Tuck to have a big game.

T.O. is still saying he is going to play but that just doesn't seem like a good idea with his injury. Regardless of what happens he will be extremely limited. Not to say he can't perform- he had a huge game in the super bowl on a bad leg...but he really may not have his legs under him on Sunday and that would be huge. The Eagles beat the Boys a few weeks ago by letting Witten beat them and taking away T.O. The monkey wrench here could be Terry Glenn, who is talking about playing his first game of the season.

I think the Giants can score on Dallas. They have no had problems moving the ball- they scored 35 in game 1 and 21 in game 2 (with some drive killing turnovers and penalties). Instead of Shockey beating Williams I think they'll send Kevin Boss out deep- he has really nice speed for a big guy...Watching him go out and catch the ball he reminds me of Todd Heap. Very natural reciever. In addition they will take a shot any time Plax is matched up one on one.

There's one more Cowboy injury and that's Tony Romo's thumb. He has nto played well over the last quarter of the season. So there are a few limiting factors for the Boys in this game that weren't there early in the year. This could be a bit of an equalizer this week. It will take an A grade effort for the Giants, but this is very doable. The way this is shaping out this is probably the best time the Giants could've asked for to play the Boys.

Posted by TMS:

we've tried to beat them straight up twice this season & failed on both occasions... the fact that he's not known for running gimmick plays even adds more reason to try it... it would catch them completely off guard... i could care less about staying true to his ideals here... we need to win this ballgame, bottomline... if a gimmick play will help us do that then he should use it.

The fact that he doesn't run gimmick plays means he's not likely to run them, especially now.

yeah, i know it's not likely to happen... just saying i'd really like to see him go away from the predictable & do something unconventional... i'll be happy if they at least stretch the defense by taking shots downfield deep... not sure how effective Plex is gonna be w/his bad ankle & all, but definitely wanna see Amani & Smith run some deep post patterns & Eli to take some shots at a big play.

Some bad news for the Giants- Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who has done a sensational job this year taking over a moribund defense that had very little talent in the back 7, is interviewing for the Falcons Head Coaching job on Friday. I've loved the job this guy has done generating pressure and keeping us in ballgames. We came a very long way from last year with essentially the same personnell. I don't know that he'll get the Falcons job, but a few things working in their favor- the advisor in the search is former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, and the 2 candidates for the GM job are Tom Heckert, Eagles GM where Spags worked for many years, and Chris Mara, who is personnell guy for the Giants. So there should be a lot of support for him.

I was hoping this guy might eventually be a successor to Coughlin.

An update to the Spags news- Looks like the Giants have asked the Falcons to move the interview from this week so as not to provide a distraction. Selfishly, hopefully we go to the super bowl and they never interview him:

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January 8, 2008
More on Spags interview with Falcons
As a courtesy to the Giants, the Falcons have agreed to wait until the end of the Giants' playoff run before interviewing defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the vacant head coaching position.

The Falcons had requested to speak to Spagnuolo on Friday, but indications are the GIants - and possibly Spagnuolo himself - preferred to wait until the playoffs are over before the interview takes place.

By league rule, assistants with teams that win the wild card round of the playoffs can speak to teams about head coaching positions during the week leading up to the divisional round.

Posted by SupremeCommander:

UGH... I don't want to lose Spags this soon... I was actually starting to think the Giants have an in-house replacement for Coughlin if/when he decides to step down or in case next year bombs for whatever reason.

we can always go after Bill Cowher if something happens w/Coughlin.

Eli's got a sense of humor afterall

[URL]http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/sports/football/10giants.html[/URL]

Reporter: What is it about the road that you like?

Manning: We win on the road.

Reporter: What about you personally?

Manning: I like that we win on the road.

[Edited by - TMS on 01-10-2008 11:02 AM]

i think Webster has the speed & size to cover TO downfield... let's hope he & Ross make some big plays in the secondary this weekend.

Oh my god!!!!!!!!!!! UNREAL!!!!!!!!!