NFL Preview: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Coverage: Sky Sports 1 12:00am, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

Yesterday was a tense day in the UK NFL scene with fans being left in the murky depths of uncertainty as to whether or not they would even be able to watch tonight’s match up.

thankfully a deal was agreed with Sky retaining the contract for the next 3 years with a minimum of 60 games a season being featured across Sky Sports including all playoff games and the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl champions will go into this game after suffering a few key casualties in the off season with two offensive weapons heading out to San Franciso in Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs.

On the flip side they have also gained a promising RB in rookie David Wilson and it appears that last year’s top ten WR Hakeem Nicks has been declared healthy and will start tonight.

I guess what all New York fans are wondering is which Giants team will turn up this season?

Will it be the mediocre side that became the first team to win the Super Bowl with a 9-7 record that stuttered their way through the season or will it be the team that knocked off Atlanta, Green Bay, San Francisco and New England on the way to Eli Manning picking up his second Super Bowl MVP…

Dallas have been busy in the off season working hard on bolstering their secondary having signed Brandon Carr from the Chiefs on a 5 year deal and trading up in this years draft to pick up LSU corner back Morris Claiborne.

Injury wise the Cowboys have a fit DeMarco Murray having fully recovered from his season ending injury last year and if he can stay fit this season could make it as one of the top backs in the league this year.

They also will be facing a late test on tight end Jason Witten after suffering an injury in their pre season opener at Oakland.

This early match up in the NFC East could lead to early comment as to who will prevail as div leaders and with the Giants winning 4 out of the last 5 match ups for me this game goes to the home side.

Regardless of the victor this long awaited first game of the NFL 2012 season promises to be a fierce start to what will be another great season in the National Football League.

image: © nanoprobe67

Tom Ellison

@tomellison7more stories from Tom Ellison

An NFL fan for a season makes an NFL for life. Luckily for me my first real season as an NFL fan was the 2008 season in which my team (New York Giants) picked up a great Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots, sounds familiar doesn't it... Like most NFL fans I am an avid fantasy player, which will often play a part in some of my pieces sometimes causing confusion between reality and fantasy. Ultimately I aim to give you a great insight into tips for the weekends games, fantasy predictions and player low downs. Here's to another great NFL season.