Dallas offense vs. New York defense

	COWBOYS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	1
	Pass	19
	Tot. Yds.	12
	Scoring	4
	Int's allowed	7
	Sacks allowed	4
	GIANTS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	10
	vs. Pass	4
	Total yds. allowed	6
	# of Ints.	6
	# of Sacks	12
	Turnover differential	-8

Last week's injury to WR Michael Irvin will have huge ramifications for Cowboys coach Chan Gailey. With the longtime playmaker out of the lineup, Dallas will be forced to start possession receiver Ernie Mills opposite Raghib Ismail.

Without Irvin, the Cowboys will be without a physical underneath receiver and will rely more upon TE David Lafleur in the passing game. Lafleur has been phased out of the passing game over the past few games but he will be counted on to pull the safety up, which will allow Ismail to get open deep. Despite the return of RDC Jason Sehorn, the Giants remain susceptible against speed receivers because opponents simply target LDC Phillipi Sparks.

Look for the Cowboys to use rookie Wane McGarity to run off FS Percy Ellsworth in order to free up deep seams for Ismail. McGarity, who has been inactive since dropping two passes in Week 2 against the Falcons, knows how to get open downfield and cannot be passed off simply as a decoy by the Giants secondary.

With Conrad Hamilton still out, the Giants will be forced to play second-year FS Shaun Williams in their nickel package. Williams is a solid defender against tight ends and bigger possession receivers but he should struggle against quicker guys like McGarity and Jeff Ogden.

The Giants did a good job of pressuring Arizona's Jake Plummer last week but the Cards' line is much more penetrable than the Cowboys. With the right side of ROG Everitt McIver and ROT Erik Williams rounding into shape, Aikman should have plenty of time to make his reads on Sunday.

Dallas will most definitely place a greater emphasis on the ground game this week, which means Emmitt Smith will get plenty of work. Smith, who is receiving four times more carries than backup Chris Warren, has rushed for over 100 yards in three of Dallas' four games this season but he has not faired well recently against the Giants. Before erupting for a 163-yard effort last November, Smith was held to 252 yards on 74 carries (3.4 avg.) in five previous contests dating back to the start of the 1996 season. The Giants' run defense, which is holding opponents to a microscopic 2.8 yards per attempt, is simply too tough to hammer the ball straight ahead at them.

With Irvin out, look for the Cowboys to open up the playbook in order to keep the Giants off balance. One play to keep an eye out for is the reverse to Ismail, who has four carries for 46 yards thus far. New York's DEs and OLBs must not over-pursue on backside because Ismail has the speed to make a team pay.

The Giants' lack of chemistry on offense is apparent because the unit lacks a legitimate leader. Collins can step up and be that guy if he is able to make some big plays in the passing game.

WR Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard have been rendered non-factors vertically all season and each boast a long reception of just 38 yards -- tying them for the team lead.

With RDC Deion Sanders back in the lineup, look for the Giants to continually test the left side of the Cowboys' secondary, especially if LDC Kevin Smith's back problems force inexperienced Charlie Williams back into the lineup. Williams was burned deep last week when he entered the game in relief and the Giants' receivers have much better speed than he faced against the Eagles.

If the Giants can hit a couple of plays downfield it will open things up for underutilized TE Pete Mitchell. It will be challenge to get Mitchell the ball against Dallas' speedy linebacking corps but he needs to be involved in order to open up the run game. The Cowboys have done an excellent job against the tight end all season, holding opponents' TEs to just six receptions in four games.

Compounding the Giants' offensive woes are their struggles in the run game. Many Giants fans expected the ground attack to improve immediately upon Gary Brown's return to the lineup, but their problems run much deeper than simply who is carrying the football.

The Giants began the season with speed backs like Sean Bennett and LeShon Johnson and justifiably attacked the perimeter of the defense. Inexplicably, with a bruiser like Brown back in the lineup, the Giants continue to run wide.

OC Brian Williams is expected back from a thumb injury, which should the inside running game but Fassel must commit his team to pounding the ball straight ahead at Dallas' undersized 'backers.

The biggest key for the Giants will be protecting the football -- something they have not done a very good job of thus far. New York has turned the ball over 10 times, including four fumbles, while the Cowoys defense has forced 12 turnovers in just three games.

Neither team is getting particularly strong contributions from their PKs, as Dallas' Richie Cunningham is 2-for-5 and New York's Brad Daluiso has missed both of his attempts from beyond 40 yards.