If the Giants throw their last losing streak on Sunday and defeat the Cowboys, all eyes will be on the Washington-Eagles game later Sunday night in Philadelphia. If the Eagles win, the Giants will finish first in the NFC East and make 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 hit – Derek Barnett and Fletcher Cox are on the defensive, and DeSean Jackson, Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert are on the offensive. It’s always a mystery how teams with nothing tangible to play for play in these situations.
“I think part of the professionalism is that you’re just focusing on that game,” said Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “There are too many at stake. It may not be in play for us as a team with a berth in the playoffs and things like that, but we have a lot of individual things that players can accomplish. We have guys trying to make their way in the league.
“We have a division opponent who will come and try to celebrate on our field. This week we need to have an anti-hat rule. We can’t let our opponents put their hats on the division at Linc. There is a lot of pride in this and all our focus should be on doing this this week. “
Relying on another team to do the job for you is always a risky business. In the 1988 final, the Giants went 10-5 in their last game, but lost to the Jets to go down to 10-6. The Giants had a back-to-back playoff entry and needed the 49ers to beat the Rams later that night. The 49ers have already won first place in the NFC West, rested several starters and lost, 38-16. That led Giants quarterback Phil Simms to say, “I’m just sitting here watching the 49ers sit like dogs.”
The return of Kyler Fackrell puts one of the Giants’ most important passengers back on the field. Fackrell has three sacks, and in week 5 the loss to the Cowboys returned a 46-meter interception for a touchdown. Fackrell missed the last four games with a calf injury.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered a compound fracture at the end of the season and dislocated his right ankle on October 11, when Giants safety Logan Ryan picked him up by attacking on a fight. Ryan said he contacted Prescott after the injury and sent Prescott two books to read.
“I haven’t been in touch since then – obviously we’re both pretty busy at this time of year – but I wish him good luck and I’m sure he’ll recover from what I’ve heard and seen,” he said. Ryan.
OLB Kyler Fackrell and CB Madre Harper were activated from the injured reserve, and the pointer Ryan Santoso was added to the list from the training team, although he will probably be inactive. FB Eli Penny (illness) was placed on IR and QB Joe Webb was released.
Cowboys assistant head coach Rob Davis, special teams assistant coach Matt Daniels and offensive assistant Scott Tolzien did not travel with the team to New Jersey today, while adhering to NFL protocols related to COVID-19. Their game day responsibilities will be handled by other Dallas coaching staff in tomorrow’s game against the New York Giants.
Will Hernandez has not missed a single shot in his first two seasons with the Giants and has started his first seven games this season, again not missing a shot on the left guard. Hernandez tested positive for COVID-19, missed two games and since his return has been an alternate backup, starting with Shane Lemieux. Hernandez was on the field for just 10 shots in last week’s loss to the Ravens.
“I think in my opinion, he did well,” said center Nick Gates. “He did everything the coaches asked him to do. He will continue to do all he can. “