2:30 p.m., KDVR-31
Regular-season records: No. 1 seed Dallas went 13-3 and won the NFC East title. No. 5 seed New York was 10-6 and was a wild-card entry after placing second in the NFC East.
Point spread: Dallas by 7 1/2.
Last meeting: Dallas won 31-20 at New York on Nov. 11.
Hash marks: Dallas beat the visiting Giants 45-35 on opening weekend. . . . The Giants won their past eight road games, including last week at Tampa Bay in the wild card, since losing at Dallas. The Giants are 8-1 on the road and 3-5 at home this season. . . . New York won at Dallas in 2006.
Cowboys win if: They pressure Eli Manning early and make him uncomfortable. Dallas will score but it can’t let the Giants keep up.
Giants win if: They get after Dallas quarterback Tony Romo all game. When Romo has been pressured consistently this season, he has been ineffective. The Giants have to blitz.
Cowboys player on the spot: It has to be Romo. His only other playoff appearance ended with him muffing a hold on a field-goal attempt in Seattle, and he is getting all kinds of heat for taking a weekend trip with Jessica Simpson. The pressure is on him.
Giants player on the spot: Manning is always on the spot. He can do no right in the eyes of many skeptics. If the Giants lose, the call will be for New York to find a new quarterback in the offseason.
Bet you didn’t know: That many people around the league think Dallas coach Wade Phillips and New York coach Tom Coughlin could be shown the door if they lose. Sounds a little harsh, but you’ve got to know it is running through the minds of both men.
Key matchup: Dallas left tackle Flozell Adams versus New York defensive end Osi Umenyiora. If Romo gets protection, the Cowboys will slice up the Giants. It starts with his blindside protector, who is a four-time Pro Bowl selection, including the past two seasons. Still, Adams will have his hands full with Umenyiora, who had 13 sacks this season. Adams goes in with the edge, though. Umenyiora had just three tackles and no sacks in two games against Dallas this season.
Prediction: Dallas 34, New York 21
