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It's almost here. The first game of the 2015 season for the Dallas Cowboys. A moment we've been waiting for ever since the playoff loss in Green Bay with the controversial Dez Bryant catch/non-catch. The Cowboys will host an old foe, the New York Giants, on Sunday night in the opener for both teams.
On offense, the Cowboys return almost everybody, except of course for the 2014 leading rusher, DeMarco Murray. Instead, Dallas will rely on a running-back-by-committee approach led by Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden. Running behind the Cowboys stellar offensive line should give the backs room to operate, and the Giants will also have to respect Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten among others in the passing game. Dallas hopes to replicate their formula from last year with strong running complemented by Tony Romo's surgical precision in the passing game.
On defense is where the Cowboys have the most change from 2014, and where they hope to have the most improvement. They won't have Greg Hardy and Rolando McClain as they both sit out suspensions, but they have some other new guys to go along with some emerging holdovers. Sean Lee is back from injury, DeMarcus Lawrence has had a full offseason to work into the mix and rookie surprise from 2014, Anthony Hitchens, has one year of experience under his belt. Holdovers like Tyrone Crawford and Jeremy Mincey hope to make things tough up front, and they will be joined by newcomers like Randy Gregory. The secondary also includes first-round pick Byron Jones. This unit should be much better than last season.
The Giants come in featuring a passing game that is their real strength, as long as they can protect Eli Manning. Emerging star Odell Beckham, Jr. hopes to torture Brandon Carr once again, but the Gaints have issues on defense. No Jason Pierre-Paul and a secondary that has been rebuilt only to suffer more injuries.
The Cowboys are the favorites on Sunday night but this is an NFC East division game, anything can happen. The Cowboys will need to be focused and energetic to secure a home win and start the 2015 season out right.
What You Need To Know
Important links: Cowboys depth chart | Roster
Date: September 13th, 2015
Game time: 8:30 PM EST
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
TV channel: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Radio: 105.3 The Fan | Full listings
Online streaming: NBC Live Extra
Dallas Cowboys record: (0-0)
New York Giants record: (0-0)
Latest Injury report:
Dallas Cowboys
Jordan Mills T -- Limited Participation in Practice
New York Giants
Jonathan Beason LB -- Did Not Participate In Practice
Victor Cruz WR -- Did Not Participate In Practice
Owamagbe Odighizuwa DE -- Did Not Participate In Practice
Odds: Dallas -5
Prediction: Cowboys 31 - Giants 20
Enemy blog: Big Blue View
Twitter: @BloggingTheBoys
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