Dallas @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2018 ) N.Y. Giants 13, Dallas 20

The Dallas Cowboys have won six of their last seven games to capture the NFC East title and return to the postseason for the second time in three years. Locked in as the fourth seed in the NFC, the Cowboys may get a bit creative with their lineup in Sunday's regular-season finale against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

"The overarching theme is really anyone who is healthy is going to play in the ballgame," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "Again, we're going to prepare the right way and go try to play the right way in New York on Sunday." Ezekiel Elliott (NFL-best 1,434 rushing yards) holds a 183-yard edge over Los Angeles Rams star Todd Gurley in his attempt to win a second league rushing title in three years. Fellow Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley (1,198) is next in line while his 1,886 scrimmage yards also have him third in the NFL, and 114 more on Sunday would allow him to join Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (2,212, 1983) and Edgerrin James (2,139, 1999) as the only rookies with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards in NFL history. Barkley, who was the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, recorded 108 scrimmage yards (80 receiving, 28 rushing) in New York's 20-13 setback against Dallas on Sept. 16.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Giants -6. O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (9-6): Outspoken owner Jerry Jones let the cat out of the bag on KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, telling the radio station that Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin will sit out the season finale due to a knee injury. Dak Prescott is on record as saying he'd like to play against the team that publicly announced that it had a better chance to win by forcing the quarterback to throw prior to the Week 2 meeting. Prescott threw for just 160 yards and a touchdown in that contest, but completed 20 of 25 passes with a scoring strike in Sunday's 27-20 win over Tampa Bay. In-season trade acquisition Amari Cooper, who was still with Oakland in the NFC East rivals' last encounter, needs just 26 yards receiving for his third career 1,000-yards campaign.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (5-10): While Elliott and Barkley presumably will serve as the marquee players in this rivalry for years to come, Eli Manning admitted this week that he's unsure if Sunday's game will be his last as New York's quarterback. "I don't know," the soon-to-be 38-year-old Manning said. "I have not gotten into that, or thought much about that. Just worried about doing my job and finishing this season." Coach Pat Shurmur announced the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback as the starter against the Cowboys despite the Giants being eliminated from postseason contention for the sixth time in seven years, although rookie Kyle Lauletta could be worked into the game. With star Odell Beckham Jr. (quad) expected to sit out his fourth straight contest, fellow wideout Sterling Shepard will bid to build off his six-catch, 113-yard performance in Sunday's 28-27 loss at Indianapolis.

EXTRA POINTS

1. New York TE Evan Engram has 14 receptions for 162 yards in his last two games after mustering 17 for 249 in his previous six contests combined.

2. Dallas K Brett Maher was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after booting two field goals and three extra points against the Buccaneers.

3. The Cowboys sacked Manning six times in the first meeting while the Giants were unable to record one on Prescott.

PREDICTION: Giants 24, Cowboys 14