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The Giants do not get dragged back into such a pleasant reminiscence. They go eagerly, because who among them doesn’t want to relive the glory?
There will be reminders galore tonight for the Giants, starting with a pregame ceremony honoring all four Super Bowl titles, especially, of course, the championship that secured the newest and shiniest Lombardi Trophy, attained just seven months ago. It is impossible to view these Giants and not consider the magnificent closing run that ended with more confetti, more Patriots’ angst and once more Eli Manning driving away with another MVP ride.
The exact moment an old season fades and the new one flows in is always subjective but there’s no doubt sometime darn near 8:30 p.m., when either Lawrence Tynes or Dan Bailey strikes the ball, it is officially 2012 in NFL time, with the Giants pursuing rather than savoring. By virtue of winning Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants get to raise the curtain on the season and, fittingly, joining them on the prime-time stage is the rival Cowboys, the team they eliminated to close out the 2011 regular season.
“I think the Cowboys bring the best out of us, and we bring the best out of them,’’ said Justin Tuck, once again a Giants tri-captain. “It’s just one of those rivalry games where it’s turned up a notch. It’s almost in a way kind of a hip-hop hurray party for us.’’
The Cowboys have already yapped a bit about being tired of losing to the Giants, tired of seeing them hoist the trophy while they trod back to Dallas empty-handed. This sentiment figures to be a repeated theme, the Giants providing motivational fodder for opponents who want to knock the champs down to size.
“You feel it, you sense it, you hear it,’’ Mathias Kiwanuka said. “People talk about it when they’re out there on the field. We’ve been in this situation before, you want to measure yourself up against the best, and it doesn’t matter where you’re at in terms of wins-losses in the season. If you get a chance at the defending champs, you’re going to give it your best shot.’’
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith vs. Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. The Cowboys believe they have their left tackle anchor in Smith, the No. 9 overall pick last year. Smith spent his rookie season at right tackle but now moves to the left side, where waiting for him with be the menacing JPP coming off a 16 1/2-sack sophomore year.
COE BETTER BLUES?
Michael Coe has played in 27 NFL games in a five-year span with the Colts, Jaguars and Giants. He has never started a single one until tonight when this 28-year old journeyman cornerback replaces Prince Amukamara (ankle), who replaced Terrell Thomas (IR). Coe has good size and athletic ability, but this hot seat is all new to him.
‘‘I think he’ll play a good game,’’ said Tom Coughlin, who probably couldn’t really say anything but that. “He’s a very competitive guy. He’s looking forward to this opportunity and I think he’ll do well.’’
Does Coughlin think Tony Romo will search where No. 37 is and target him with Dez Bryant or Miles Austin ?
“Probably,’’ Coughlin said.
Make that definitely.
“I’m not going to be oblivious to that fact,” Coe said. “I’m sure they’ll look my way more often than not. I’ll be prepared for that.”
PERFECT DEBUT
Ever since 2001, the league has scheduled the defending Super Bowl winner in the NFL Kickoff game, a Thursday night prime-time showcase. The champs, always playing at home, are 8-0. This game was moved to a Wednesday night to avoid conflict with President Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, but no matter the day, the Giants don’t want to be the first title-holder to lose this special opener.
“Thanks, thanks for jinxing us like that, I appreciate it,’’ Tuck said when informed of the past perfection of the Super Bowl champs.
TELL US, MARTELLUS
Witty, glib, irreverent, wacky — it all was on display this summer with Martellus Bennett in his first preseason with the Giants. Now it’s show-me time with his new team as Bennett — wouldn’t you know it — makes his Giants debut against his former team. Bennett played behind Jason Witten and left after four years as a big disappointment in Dallas. He will be asked to help Sean Locklear at left tackle deal with DeMarcus Ware and provide an inviting target for Eli Manning.
“I think it’s been a long time coming and I’m super excited about that more so than just playing against the Cowboys,’’ Bennett said. “I’m super excited to show who I am and the player I’ve always been that I never got a chance to show.’’
FOE FACT
In 10 career starts against the Giants, Tony Romo has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,462 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has three four-touchdown games against the Giants. Excellent numbers. His record in those 10 starts? 4-6.
PAUL’S PREDICTION
Hakeem Nicks figures to be slowed some coming off a broken foot and Dallas’ defense usually does a good job limiting the Giants on the ground. Unlike previous matchups, points could come grudgingly in this one. Stopping running back DeMarco Murray won’t be easy.
Giants 20, Cowboys 17