The Giants head south to Irving in position to sweep this NFC East rivalry for the second time in 3 seasons.

Three months ago on a Monday night at East Rutherford (Week 6), Giants RB Tiki Barber broke a 3-3 fourth-quarter tie with an 85-yard punt return for a score, but it took PK Brad Daluisos 21-yard field goal with :01 remaining to give New York a 13-10 victory.

Despite that earlier loss, Dallas still owns a commanding 46-26-2 advantage in this rivalrys standings.

As for New Yorks last trip to Texas Stadium (Week 10 of 98), Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith ran for 163 yards and the Dallas defense kept the Giants out of the end zone as Dallas scratched out a 16-6 victory.

The Giants are just 1-7 in their last 8 visits to Texas Stadium dating back to 1991

Numbers: Including playoffs, Giants QB Kerry Collins is 3-0 lifetime vs. Dallas (2-0 with Panthers, 1-0 with Saints), completing 44-of-78 passes (56.4 %) for 475 yards, 6 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions, throwing 2 TD passes in each of those victories. In 30 starts dating back to 1997 (17 with Panthers, 7 with Saints, 6 with Giants), Collins has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just 5 interceptions in 10 wins, 16 TD passes and 39 interceptions in 20 losses. In his last 14 games vs. the Giants, Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith has carried 302 times for 1,372 yards and 13 touchdowns (rushing for 100 or more yards in 7 contests), plus caught 58 passes for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns. Smith has rushed for 100 or more yards in 14 of his last 26 contests dating back to 98. Smith has totaled 136 rushing touchdowns, 39 of those scores from one yard out. The Giants have scored 360 points and committed just 17 turnovers in 15 wins, while scoring just 198 points and committing 39 turnovers in 16 losses dating back to 1998. The Giants have forced 37 turnovers and totaled 55 sacks in 15 wins, while totaling just 12 takeaways and 31 sacks in 16 losses dating back to 98.

In 15 games vs. NFC East rivals dating back to 98 (under head coach Chan Gailey), the Cowboys are 12-3, totaling 384 points and 40 offensive touchdowns in those 15 contests. Cowboys have scored 30 or more points in 8 of those 15 contests. The Cowboys have outscored the opposition a combined 81-28 in the first quarter in 15 games in 99. They have totaled 23 interceptions in 15 games in 99, this after totaling just 14 interceptions in 16 games in 98. Including playoffs, the Cowboys have allowed 32 TD passes in their last 23 games dating back to 98, this after giving up just nine touchdown passes in their first nine contests in 98. Including playoffs, Cowboys CB Deion Sanders has scored 22 touchdowns in six different ways (8 interceptions, 6 punt returns, 3 kickoff returns, 3 receptions, 1 rushing and 1 fumble recovery) in 11 NFL seasons (1989-99). They have forced two or more turnovers in eight straight games.

Things to look for: Now that the NFC East title has eluded both of the last two divisions champions, the Giants and Cowboys now look to salvage their seasons with a wild card invite, automatic for Dallas with a victory but not a sure thing for Jim Fassels team even with a win here. Chan Gaileys defense has disappointed down the stretch, and New York will win if they exercise patience with the running game.

Etc.: The Giants are 15-7-1 vs. NFC East opponents under head coach Jim Fassel (1997-99). Including playoffs, the Cowboys are 52-22 (2-1 in playoffs) vs. NFC East competition since 1991, including 20-12 vs. divisional competition since 96. Including playoffs, the Cowboys are just 17-20 in their last 37 games after opening 6-5 in 1997. RB Emmitt Smith has rushed for 100 or more yards 63 times during his career, and a 100-yard rushing performance vs. the Giants would tie him with Eric Dickerson (64) for the third-most 100-yard rushing games in NFL history. Smith (13,841) needs 159 yards to become just the third player in NFL history with 14,000 career rushing yards.