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Top 5 Giants vs. Cowboys Matchups To Watch In Week 7

Top 5 Giants vs. Cowboys Matchups To Watch

DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants head to Arlington, Texas for a pivotal divisional matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys are riding high after a huge win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, while the Giants will be looking to bounce back after a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. With that in mind, here are the top five matchups to watch for Sunday's game between the Giants and Cowboys.

5. DE Anthony Spencer vs. OT Will Beatty

Anthony Spencer Cowboys
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

5. DE Anthony Spencer vs. OT Will Beatty

Anthony Spencer Cowboys
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer played his best game of the season in Sunday's win over the Seahawks. Spencer, who has been slow to recover from microfracture surgery, had three tackles and was consistently applying pressure to Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. He could have difficulty against Giants tackle Will Beatty, although the Giants' offensive line gave up eight sacks in Sunday night's loss to the Eagles.

4. DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. OT Tyron Smith

Jason Pierre-Paul Giants
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

4. DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. OT Tyron Smith

Jason Pierre-Paul Giants
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul can be one of the more dominant defenders in the league when he wants to be. He has had plenty of success against the Cowboys and tackle Tyron Smith in the past. The Cowboys' offensive line is one of the better units in the league and has allowed just 10 sacks on the season.

3. WR Dez Bryant vs. Giants' Secondary

Dez Bryant Cowboys
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

3. WR Dez Bryant vs. Giants' Secondary

Dez Bryant Cowboys
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys star wide receiver Dez Bryant is coming off another strong game in which he recorded four receptions for 63 yards against a stout Seahawks' defense. Bryant could be in store for a big game Sunday when he faces a Giants' secondary that has lost cornerback Trumaine McBride to a season-ending injury and could be without starter Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

2. WR Odell Beckham Jr. vs. CB Brandon Carr

Odell Beckham Jr. Giants
Bill Strelcher-USA TODAY Sports

2. WR Odell Beckham Jr. vs. CB Brandon Carr

Odell Beckham Jr. Giants
Bill Strelcher-USA TODAY Sports

Odell Beckham Jr. has shown flashes since returning from a hamstring injury, but with star wideout Victor Cruz done for the year after suffering a torn patellar tendon, Beckham Jr. will need to take his game to another level. It will not be easy for the rookie this week when he faces a Cowboys' secondary that has vastly improved since the return of Orlando Scandrick.

1. RB DeMarco Murray vs. Giants' Run Defense

DeMarco Murray Cowboys
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

1. RB DeMarco Murray vs. Giants' Run Defense

DeMarco Murray Cowboys
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

DeMarco Murray has been the star of the NFL through six games, and there is no reason to think that will change this week. He is coming off a game in which he rushed for 115 yards against Seattle's top-ranked run defense. The Giants are the league's 18th-ranked run defense at 116.3 yards per game and allowed Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy to rush for a season-high 149 yards last week.

K.J. Momberg is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @k_momberg or add him to your network on Google.

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