Giants at Cowboys
Injuries decimated the Dallas Cowboys' season in 2015 and already have reared their ugly head this year, as veteran quarterback Tony Romo is expected to be sidelined six-to-10 weeks with a compression fracture in his back. The doom and gloom was replaced by the tempered optimism following a strong preseason by rookie Dak Prescott (39-of-50, seven total touchdowns), who takes the reins on Sunday as the host Cowboys open their season against the NFC East-rival New York Giants.
Electric wideout Dez Bryant returns after being plagued by a foot injury for much of 2015 while fourth overall pick Ezekiel Elliott already is making claims of breaking Eric Dickerson's long-standing NFL rookie rushing record (1,808 in 1983) as he runs behind Dallas' vaunted offensive line. "Eighteen hundred yards. We joke about it all the time. I told him I'm going to get it," the 21-year-old Elliott said, via ESPN. Ben McAdoo will be charged with keeping Elliott and the Cowboys in check as the former offensive coordinator makes his debut as New York's coach, replacing the dismissed Tom Coughlin. Veteran quarterback Eli Manning looks to improve upon a 35-touchdown performance in 2015 while trusted wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reeled in 96 receptions last year - the second-most in a season in franchise history.
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cowboys -1. O/U: 46
ABOUT THE GIANTS (2015: 6-10, third in NFC East): Rashad Jennings rode a running-back-by-committee approach to a career-high 1,159 yards from scrimmage last season. The 31-year-old, who broke away from the pack and averaged 19.8 carries over the final three weeks, is expected to be the primary rusher at the goal line in 2016. On the defensive side of the ball, safety Landon Collins recorded a team-best 112 tackles during his rookie season in 2015 - including 13 in two games versus the Cowboys.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (2015: 4-12, fourth in NFC East): While the lights shine bright on Dallas' potential on offense, the defense has a secondary that did not record a single interception last season and will face Beckham, a returning Victor Cruz (patellar tendon) and rookie Sterling Shepard. The Cowboys are banking on health being the key as Orlando Scandrick returns after working his way back from a torn ACL and MCL while fellow cornerback Morris Claiborne completed his first career training camp and preseason without issue. Linebacker Sean Lee led the club with 128 tackles last season, but defensive pressure up front could be an issue all season for Dallas.
EXTRA POINTS
1. New York finished plus-7 in turnover differential last season while Dallas was an NFL-worst minus-22 with a league-low 11 takeaways.
2. Cowboys veteran TE Jason Witten, who restructured his contract to create cap space on Thursday, made a team-leading 77 catches in 2015 - including a TD reception with seven seconds left in a 27-26 season-opening win over the Giants.
3. New York's Randy Bullock will get the nod on Sunday as fellow K Josh Brown serves a one-game suspension stemming from a domestic violence arrest last year.