If the Giants abandon their recent defeats on Sunday and beat the Cowboys, all eyes will be on the Washington-Eagles game late Sunday night in Philadelphia. If the Eagles win, the Giants will finish first in the NFC East and reach the playoffs. The Eagles (4-10-1) are the only team in the division to enter Week 17 already eliminated from the postseason.
The Eagles are defeated – Derek Barnett and Fletcher Cox are on defense, and DeSean Jackson, Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert are on the attack. It is always a mystery how teams with nothing tangible to play for act in these situations.
“I think part of the professionalism is staying focused on just that game,” said Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “There is a lot at stake. It may not be at stake for us as a team with a playoff spot and things like that, but we have a lot of individual things that players can still accomplish. We have guys who are trying to earn their place in the league.
“We have a category opponent who will come and try to celebrate on our field. We need to have a hat ban rule this week. We cannot let opponents put on the victory hat in the division at Linc. There is a lot of pride in that, and our whole focus has to be on achieving this this week. ”
Having another team to do the job for you is always a risky business. In the 1988 final, the Giants were going into the final game 10-5, but lost to the Jets and dropped to 10-6. The Giants had a back door for the playoffs and needed the 49ers to beat the Rams later that night. The 49ers had already taken first place at NFC West, rested several games and lost 38-16. This prompted Giants quarterback Phil Simms to say, “I’m just sitting here watching and watching the 49ers lie down like dogs.”
Kyler Fackrell’s return puts one of the Giants’ best pass-rushers back on the field. Fackrell has three sacks, and at week 5 the loss to the Cowboys returned a 46-yard interception for a touchdown. Fackrell lost the last four games due to a calf injury.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered an open fracture at the end of the season and dislocation of his right ankle on October 11, when Giants safety Logan Ryan pulled him down with a tackle in a race. Ryan said he sought out Prescott after the injury and sent Prescott two books to read.
“I haven’t been in touch since then – obviously we’re very busy human beings at this time of year – but I wish him the best of luck and I’m sure he’s making a great recovery from what I heard and what I saw,” said Ryan.
OLB Kyler Fackrell and CB Madre Harper were activated from the injured reserve and punter Ryan Santoso was added to the squad of the training team, although he is probably inactive. FB Eli Penny (illness) was put on IR and QB Joe Webb was released.
Cowboys assistant coach Rob Davis, assistant special team coach Matt Daniels and offensive assistant Scott Tolzien did not travel with the team to New Jersey today, while adhering to the NFL protocols related to COVID-19. Your match day responsibilities will be taken over by other members of the Dallas coaching staff in tomorrow’s match against the New York Giants.
Will Hernandez did not miss a single snap in the first two seasons with the Giants and started the first seven games this season, again without missing a snap on the left guard. Hernandez tested positive for COVID-19, missed two games and since his return has been an alternate reserve, with rookie Shane Lemieux as a starter. Hernandez was on the field only 10 times in last week’s defeat by the Ravens.
“I think, from my impression, he handled it well, ” said pivot Nick Gates. “He did everything the coaches asked him to do. He will continue to do everything he can. ”