Giants-Cowboys Game Preview

	LINE -- Cowboys by 13.
	RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Giants 3-5; Cowboys 4-4.
	SERIES RECORD -- Cowboys lead 40-21-2.
	LAST TIME MET -- Cowboys won NFC East crown with 16-13 win over
Giants in overtime in the final week of 1993.
	LAST GAME -- Giants lost in 28-25 in overtime to Lions at Giants
Stadium. Cowboys came from 14-0 first-quarter deficit to beat
Bengals 23-20.
	GIANTS OFFENSE -- RUSH (No. 13), PASS (No. 28), OVERALL (No. 28)
	Produced 344 total yards and 195 on ground vs. Lions. Had not
been over 300 total yards since Week 3 vs. Redskins and rushing
total was best of season. RB Rodney Hampton had 138 yards on 30
carries. He leads team with 435 yards rushing. QB Dave Brown, who
has struggled greatly, had his best game in weeks, completing 19 of
25 for 159 yards last week.
	COWBOYS OFFENSE -- RUSH (No. 8), PASS (No. 10), OVERALL (No. 8)
	QB Troy Aikman threw for 272 yards and two TDs last week. He is
No. 2 passer in NFC (94.8). Scoring 26.3 points per game (second in
NFC). RB Emmitt Smith is leading NFC in TDs (nine) and is second in
rushing (748 yards). With OT Eric Williams out for season, Larry
Allen will take over his spot. Banged up line allowed no sacks last
week.
	GIANTS DEFENSE -- RUSH (No. 11), PASS (No. 24), OVERALL (No. 18)
	After being one of stingiest teams in league against run for
first six games (78.7 yards per game), have given up 324 yards
rushing in last two weeks. CB Phillippi Sparks (groin) remains out.
His replacement, rookie CB Thomas Randolph, suffered turf toe last
week and is listed as questionable. DB Willie Beamon may start.
	COWBOYS DEFENSE -- RUSH (No. 9), PASS (No. 1), OVERALL (No. 2)
	One of league's top-rated units was bit shaky last week. Had
only one sack and no INTs last week. Their 24 sacks are second in
NFC and 12 INTs are tied for third. Safeties Darren Woodson and
James Washington, who have combined for seven INTs, and corners
Larry Brown and Kevin Smith, lead pass defense, which is allowing
just 164.6 yards per game.
	SPECIAL TEAMS -- Giants KR Dave Meggett had his second punt
return for TD of year vs. Lions. Last week's return went for 56
yards. Meggett is second in NFC, averaging 15.3 yards per punt
return. ... K Chris Boniol leads NFC in points with 66. KR Kevin
Williams leads NFC in kickoff returns (29.1).
	STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Cowboys have won 11 straight vs. NFC
East opponents and have won four straight meetings with Giants. ...
Giants have not permitted TD on opponent's first drive in 30 games.
Cowboys have scored TD on five of their opening drives this season.
... Meggett's punt return TD was sixth of his career. ... Giants'
five-game losing streak is worst under coach Dan Reeves. ... Brown
had INT returned for TD last week by Lions ILB Mike Johnson. It was
third time this season he has had INT returned for score. ...
Cowboys had allowed only four pass plays of more than 25 yards
before allowing TD passes of 67 and 55 yards last week.