Come Sunday, the Giants will be all decked out in their red alternate uniforms, and that suits Osi Umenyiora just fine.
“They’re beautiful, man. They look real good on tape, especially,” he said. “Looks real good to see a swarm of red.”
A swarm of red is what the Giants defense intends to unleash on the high-flying Cowboys’ potent offense, a band of ‘Boys ranked only behind the other-worldly Patriots. Back in the opener, this particular confrontation was no contest. The Cowboys did as they pleased against a gasping Giants defense that was woefully unprepared for the real season. Forty-five points later, the Cowboys were cruising and the Giants were headed to the defensive repair shop.
Now comes the rematch in a battle for first-place in the NFC East. And despite the fancy crimson clothing, there’s more than a fashion statement on the minds of the retribution-minded Giants.
“It’s not about owing them something, it’s about proving a point, about making a statement,” linebacker Antonio Pierce said.
Fellow linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka went even further.
“We will make a different statement,” Kiwanuka said. “We’re not going to make predictions or anything like that, but just the way we’re gonna play will be different. Obviously it was pretty bad last game.”
Bad is being kind. Tony Romo passed for 345 yards and four touchdowns. Marion Barber and Julius Jones combined for 131 rushing yards. The Cowboys scored six touchdowns, had 12 plays of at least 15 yards and had 478 total yards.
All concerned are certain that defense is not this defense. Back on Sept. 9, players were not clued into what first-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo demanded, as evidenced by an alarming number of blatantly-blown assignments. On the first defensive series, Osi Umenyiora went down with a bruised left knee and could not return. That forced a rusty Michael Strahan – coming off a 36-day training-camp holdout – on the field far more than anticipated, and he was not effective. In addition, Kiwanuka was making his first career start at strong side linebacker and was, to be polite, overmatched.
The Giants feel their true defense hasn’t been revealed to the Cowboys as of yet. Umenyiora’s health is not an issue, Strahan is in midseason form and Kiwanuka is far more adept in his new role.
“I think it will be a world of difference,” Kiwanuka said.
“The speed of the defense and the knowledge of what we want to do make us a totally different team now,” added Strahan. “Now we understand and we get to our responsibility as fast and as violently as we can.”
Kiwanuka is Exhibit A of how things can change in half a season. He was admittedly tentative and unsure of himself the first time around in the 45-35 loss and could not deal with tight end Jason Witten, who ran free en route to a huge (six catches, 116 yards, one touchdown) outing. Kiwanuka is certain he’s better equipped for Round 2.
“For me, there were a lot of plays in that game I wish I could have back, a lot of things I look at now and I’m like, ‘Why was I even thinking that way?’ ” Kiwanuka said. “The bottom line is we didn’t get it done, I didn’t get it done and it’s not going to happen again this week.
“[Witten] is a good player. I’m not taking him lightly, but I’m not seeing him in my dreams like everybody else thinks. We’ll be OK.”
As much as the Giants confess to their involvement in the early defensive mess that has since been cleaned up, they sound a bit tired of hearing and reading about the greatness of Romo and the Cowboys.
“They’re playing really well, getting a lot of great press, have a quarterback that’s like the golden child right now,” Strahan said. “I think we want to get our shot at them again.”
Added Pierce, “It’s always fun when you play the Dallas Cowboys. It’s America’s Team, and they’re coming to America’s country right here, they’re coming to New York City, so only one team can come out as America’s Team and hopefully it’s going to be the New York Giants.”