New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: 3 causes for concern in Week 18

The New York Giants will conclude their season on Sunday when they host their division rival, the Dallas Cowboys, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Both teams are playing their final game of the season, having been eliminated from postseason contention.

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The teams met in a high-scoring affair in Week 2, where the Giants fell short in overtime in what was by far Russell Wilson’s best performance during his three starts for New York. Significant changes have occurred for both squads since that initial matchup.

The Giants opened as 5-point home underdogs earlier in the week, and given the way the season has unfolded, underdog status is hardly unfamiliar territory for Big Blue.

Here are three causes for concern ahead of Sunday’s season finale.

Cowboys have dominated the rivalry

Dallas has defeated the Giants in nine consecutive meetings and has won 16 of the last 17 matchups dating back to the start of the 2017 season. It has been a challenging stretch for New York in this series.

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Star power at wide receiver

The Giants’ secondary will have its hands full on Sunday covering both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The duo ranks among the league’s best, and Pickens has thrived in the Dallas offense while enjoying a career year. Both receivers have surpassed the 1,000-yard mark this season. The Giants face a formidable challenge in containing the Cowboys’ receiving tandem.

New York managed to keep pace offensively in the first meeting thanks to strong performances from Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. Repeating that level of production will be difficult without Nabers this time.

Dak Prescott

Despite a disappointing season for Dallas, the Cowboys’ quarterback is enjoying one of the best years of his professional career. Prescott has been a primary reason for Dallas’ recent dominance over the Giants and a key factor in the success of the team’s two star receivers. He is likely to exploit a Giants defense that has been deeply disappointing throughout the season.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: 3 causes for concern in Week 18