Go Giants! It's In My Gut.

Old timers may remember the song that Three Dog Night made popular back in 1970. That song may very well be the tune that Giants players may want to play as they prepare for a third meeting with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday January 13th, at 3:30 pm CST.

Beginning to wonder of that Patriot game last weekend did something to elevate the confidence level of the Giant quarterback. Then again, playing in 72 degree conditions after a month of wind, rain, and cold may have played a factor in losses to the Redskins and Eagles in December. People have questioned for sometime what kind of leader Eli Manning happens to be. My guess is that with Plaxico Burress back to assume receiving duties, Eli has more options in opening up a defense. To score 24 unanswered points speaks volumes about confidence and the ability to lead.

The Cowboys have had a storybook season in going 13-3 and amassing home field advantage. They also have had nothing to play for in the last six weeks. Terrell Owens (who I applaud for not having drawn any attention to himself off the field) is still rehabbing a high ankle sprain. Fans took notice as to how ordinary the Cowboy offense looked with T.O. out. While the Cowboys have more intangibles in their favor, this weekends game reminds me alot of another team who was disruptive during an assumed playoff run. I speak of the Minnesota Vikings of 1987.

It was a strike year, the players sat out for three weeks until a new contract was ratified, and the Vikings proceeded to get into the playoffs with an 8-7 record. They would then do the unthinkable and upset two teams from the NFC West with a combined 25-5! First it was a road trip to New Orleans. Wade Wilson would have great success hooking up with Anthony Carter and Darrin Nelson was solid running the football. The same happened in rainy and muddy San Francisco where the Vikes shocked the 13-2 49ers and Joe Montana 36-24. The Niner dynasty was born a year later in Joe Walsh's last year as coach.

Do I have any credible source of data to back my theory up? No. Next Sunday will mark the 53rd time that two teams will meet a third time in a playoff. Only 11 teams have completed the sweep. While a great rivalry, I wonder just how prepared and ready Dallas will be against the us versus the world mentality the Giants appear to be displaying. This will be a close game no matter who wins. If New York pulls off the upset, it will be due to poor safety play and a relentless New York defensive front four, spearheaded by Michael Strahan. A great rivalry and a very busy weekend for bar folks...

Hmm, this will be the 53rd team playoff meet for a third time? 53...like the joker in the deck...someone will have to be 'dealt' with. Should Dallas make it look easy then all of this was for naught and my pals Brian and BJ will let me hear about it.

I still recall it was one year ago tonight that Tony Romo fumbled a snap and a one point loss in Seattle that hounded Cowboy fans for the whole off-season. It was also the Giants who were the opponent when Tony Romo played in his first game on a Monday night in October 2006 as fill-in quarterback. If T.O. doesn't play up to par I predict Tony Romo will have timing issues with his passing. I think we'll see a game even better than what the Jags and Steel City provided yesterday.

Tickets will be at a premium. Eight left, who will the final four in the NFL playoffs be after 1/13th? Time will tell...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will