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FOOTBALL

Eli Manning Back Under Center Sunday As New York Host Dallas

Eli Manning who is thirty six and who had made 210 starts before being  benched a week ago for Geno Smith in Oakland will be back running the offense Sunday when New York  host their NFC rival Dallas at Metlife Stadium with Steve Spagnuolo who is the defensive coordinator  as the interim head coach. 

As for New York who has a record of 2-10 They lost their last game on the road in Oakland "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/nyg/new-york-giantsthey

Playing without Eli Manning for the first time since November 14, 2004, the New York Giants fell to the Raiders 24-17 in their final trip to Oakland. Big Blue will fly back with a 2-10 record. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1


WHAT WE LEARNED ON OFFENSE

*Geno Smith, who was announced as the starting quarterback on Tuesday, went 21 of 34 for 212 yards and a touchdown. He also two fumbles lost on strip-sacks by Bruce Irvin and Khalil Mack. Rookie quarterback Davis Webb was inactive. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*The Giants’ first two series yielded a loss of a yard while they began with three consecutive three-and-out drives. Their initial first down came via penalty on the fourth possession, which ended with Orleans Darkwa scoring his third touchdown of the season late in the first quarter on a one-yard run. Like he has done at times this season, 331-pound defensive tackle Robert Thomas doubled as a fullback on the play and had the lead block. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*The Giants, who have started eight different offensive line combinations this season, remained with the same lineup from last week while Justin Pugh missed his third consecutive game with a back injury. Undrafted rookie Chad Wheeler again started in his place at right tackle, and Jon Halapio played right guard with D.J. Fluker on injured reserve. However, Wheeler left in the second half with a concussion and was replaced by Bobby Hart. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*Paul Perkins, who began the year as the starting running back, got his first carry since Week 4 in Tampa Bay and finished with 12 yards on three attempts. As a team, the Giants rushed for just 65 yards on 24 carries for an average of 2.7 yards. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*Rookie tight end Evan Engram bounced back with 99 yards on seven catches (both career highs), including a 10-yard touchdown with 5:16 left in the game. In the process, he broke a tie with Bob Tucker for the most touchdowns (six) by a rookie tight end in franchise history. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard returned to the lineup after missing two games while he dealt with migraines. He hauled in three passes for 56 yards, 47 of which came on a catch-and-run in the fourth quarter. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

WHAT WE LEARNED ON DEFENSE

*Big plays continued to cost the Giants on defense. Marshawn Lynch, who tied a Seahawks record with four rushing touchdowns in his last game against the Giants, opened with a 51-yard score on the Raiders’ first drive of the game. Cordarrelle Patterson had a 59-yard catch-and-run to help the Raiders extend their lead to 10 points with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*Safety Landon Collins and cornerback Brandon Dixon, who was recently promoted from the practice squad, both dropped what would have been easy interceptions off fourth-year quarterback Derek Carr. However, they teamed up for a takeaway late in the third quarter when Dixon stripped wide receiver Johnny Holton and Collins recovered the fumble. The Giants’ secondary played without cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins (injured reserve) and Eli Apple, who was a late addition to this week’s injury report with a hip issue. He missed the previous two games due to a coach’s decision. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*At a position that has lost six players to season-ending injuries, B.J. Goodson and Calvin Munson both returned from their own injuries. Munson, an undrafted rookie, recorded his second career sack. Goodson, however, left in the second half with an ankle injury. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

WHAT WE LEARNED ON SPECIAL TEAMS


*Brad Wing had a 69-yard punt late in the first half that rolled to the one-yard line, where it was downed by Kalif Raymond. It was the third-longest punt in Wing’s career. Wing had punts of 74 and 70 yards in 2014 while playing for the Steelers. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*On the possession following Wing’s punt, Shane Smith tackled Marquette King on an aborted punt with 45 seconds remaining in the first half. The Giants took over inside the Raiders 10, but Geno Smith then lost his second fumble before the break. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

*Aldrick Rosas made a career-long 52-yard field goal to cut the game to one possession with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. His ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Raiders to seal the game. "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

INACTIVES

NYG: QB Davis Webb, WR Travis Rudolph, CB Eli Apple (hip), LB Jeremy Cash, LB Jonathan Casillas (neck/wrist), OL Justin Pugh (back), DT Khyri Thornton "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

OAK: QB Connor Cook; CB David Amerson (foot), LB Cory James (knee), OT Jylan Ware, DT Darius Latham, WR Amari Cooper (concussion/ankle), DE Jihad Ward
"according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1
LINEUP CHANGES

NYG: Chad Wheeler for Pugh at RT; Kelvin Sheppard for Casillas at WLB "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

OAK: Nicholas Morrow for James at WLB; Sean Smith for Amerson at LCB "according tohttp://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

INJURY REPORT

NYG: LB B.J. Goodson (ankle), RT Chad Wheeler (concussion), RB Wayne Gallman (hip) "according to http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/instant-analysis-lose/article-1/Instant-Analysis-Raiders-24-Giants-17/92b32c92-6160-47dd-b404-1e268812d4d1

As for Dallas who has a record of 6-6 they won their last game as they crushed Washington.

-- Dak Prescott was getting X-rays on his swollen right hand when rookie Ryan Switzer scored his first career touchdown on an 83-yard punt return. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The extra time with the Dallas offense on the sideline kept Prescott from missing any plays, and last year's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year led the Cowboys to their first win after three straight losses without suspended star running back Ezekiel Elliott. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Prescott threw two touchdown passes, including a franchise record-breaker to Dez Bryant , in the Cowboys' 38-14 victory over the Washington Redskins on Thursday night. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The injury happened in the second quarter when Prescott's right hand was hit by linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons just as he made an option pitch to Rod Smith. Thanks to Switzer's dash to the end zone, Prescott didn't miss a snap. He said the X-rays came back negative. "according tohttp://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

"I don't know if I've ever broken my hand," Prescott said. "I couldn't grip initially right after because the (hand) swelled up on me so bad. As I said, they wrapped it up, got the swelling down and I was fine." "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Bryant's leaping 13-yard catch in the end zone was the 2014 All-Pro's first score in six games and 72nd of his career, one more than Hall of Famer Bob Hayes. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The Cowboys (6-6) never trailed despite a sluggish start to the offense, thanks to three first-half turnovers and four overall by the Redskins (5-7). Dallas kept it going after halftime with a 21-7 scoring edge after getting outscored 72-6 in the second half during the three-game skid."according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Alfred Morris, Elliott's replacement during the six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence, had 127 yards rushing and a clinching touchdown. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The Cowboys forced NFL-leading Philadelphia to wait until at least Sunday to clinch the division title. But Dallas still faces a steep climb to playoff contention, and two more games without Elliott. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

The Redskins had already been eliminated in the division race and are virtually out of the postseason picture after Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions and lost a fumble while throwing two touchdown passes. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Jamison Crowder let the pass go through his hands on Cousins' first interception and fumbled on a Dallas punt a few plays later in the Redskins' fourth straight loss to the Cowboys, the longest such streak in the series since 2003-04. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

"It was just miscues," Cousins said. "A dropped ball here, we had a nice drive down the field the second drive, just a tough turnover, and then it was one thing after another that were just mistakes. They happen, and we have to correct them." "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

By the time the Redskins answered Switzer's punt return with a 75-yard drive that ended with Cousins' 20-yard scoring pass to Ryan Grant , Prescott was ready to return. He had been holding his right hand in his helmet once he returned to the sideline. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Rookie backup Cooper Rush had his helmet on when the Redskins punted. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

"If we didn't have the return by Switz, Cooper Rush would have got in the ballgame at that point," coach Jason Garrett said. "We got the return, Dak was able to come back out." "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Prescott only threw for 102 yards but didn't have a turnover after throwing five interceptions and losing three fumbles without a touchdown pass during the losing streak. "according tohttp://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

And the Cowboys looked more like the offense they have when Elliott is around, with Morris picking up big yardage on clock-killing drives with the Cowboys in front. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Cousins moved the Washington offense sporadically because he was consistently harassed behind a patchwork offensive line that had to shuffle some more because of injuries. Cousins, who was 26 of 37 for 251 yards, was replaced by Colt McCoy late in the fourth quarter. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

SACKS ARE BACK

DeMarcus Lawrence, the NFL sacks leader most of the first half of the season, had two of Dallas' four sacks, ending a two-game drought for the entire team and extending his career high to 13 1/2. Cousins was hit hard by David Irving on a sack in the fourth quarter. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

BRYANT'S IMPACT

Bryant still hasn't had a 100-yard game, his longest drought to start a season since his second year in 2011. But the 61-yard effort included a 24-yarder that set up his record-setting TD on the first play of the fourth quarter. "I was talking about that demeanor and that attitude that we carried," Prescott said. "I give him credit. He kind of brought it this week and pretty much tonight and you kind of felt it early." "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

MORE OL SHUFFLING

Redskins right tackle Morgan Moses didn't return after injuring an ankle in the first half, forcing Ty Nsekhe to that spot after he was a fill-in starter at left guard on a patchwork line that's been dealing with injuries all season. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Left tackle Trent Williams left the field briefly in the third quarter. He's been inactive three of the past six games because a knee injury that will require surgery. Washington was already missing center Chase Roullier because of a hand injury. "according to http://www.espn.com/nfl/undefined

Kick-off is set for 1:00pm from Metlife Stadium. The game will be televised on Fox. "according to http://www.giants.com/games-and-schedules/schedule.html