Wide Receivers Headline Cowboys vs. Giants Opener

Game airs Sunday night on NBC 5

For the third time in four years, the Cowboys will open the regular season against the New York Giants.

And in their 2015 debut, the Cowboys will have to try to contain Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whose four touchdown receptions against Dallas last season were more than any other player in the NFL.

“He’s the full package,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said of Beckham. "We’ll have our hands full. But we play (a tough wide receiver to defend) in practice every day too."

Marinelli was, of course, speaking about Dez Bryant, who will play in a game Sunday for the first time this season after being held out of the preseason with a hamstring injury.

Bryant is banking on four years of camaraderie with Tony Romo to pick up right where they left off.

"We have a great relationship off the field," Bryant said. "I think that’s the best thing you can ever have among players. Things become naturally easy when you have that kind of relationship. I’ll jump back in and we’ll do what we normally do."

The Cowboys and Giants kick off Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. on NBC 5.

Game Outlook from the Associated Press

   NEW YORK GIANTS (6-10) at DALLAS (13-5)
   Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC
   OPENING LINE -- Cowboys by 5
   SERIES RECORD -- Cowboys lead 61-43-2
   LAST MEETING -- Cowboys beat Giants 31-28, Nov. 23, 2014
   AP PRO32 RANKING -- Giants No. 22, Cowboys No. 6
   GIANTS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (10), RUSH (23), PASS (7)
   GIANTS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (29), RUSH (8), PASS (18)
   COWBOYS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (7), RUSH (2), PASS (16)
   COWBOYS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (19), RUSH (8), PASS (26)

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   STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Cowboys have won four straight in series after losing eight of previous 11. ... Cowboys are 7-0 against Giants in season openers. ... Cowboys have highest season-opening winning percentage in NFL history, (.667, 36-18-1), while Giants have third-most wins in openers (49). ... Giants QB Eli Manning had fourth career 4,000-yard season last year (4,410) and reached 30 TDs for second time. He has 12 TDs in past four games against Dallas. ... AP's NFL Offensive Rookie of Year Odell Beckham Jr. had 1,305 yards receiving, most ever through 12 games to start career. Beckham has nine straight games with at least 90 yards, tied for longest in NFL history. ... WR Victor Cruz, who missed 10 games with torn patellar tendon last season, didn't practice early in week because of calf injury. He had 118 yards and three touchdowns in last game against Dallas in 2013. ... WR Rueben Randle had career highs of 71 catches and 938 yards last year. ... LB Jon Beason has five 100-tackle seasons. ... Cowboys QB Tony Romo led NFL with franchise-record passer rating of 113.2 last season. ... RB Joseph Randle averaged 6.7 yards as DeMarco Murray's backup, highest among backs with at least 50 carries. ... WR Dez Bryant led NFL with franchise-record 16 touchdowns, is only player in league with at least 12 TDs receiving each of past three seasons. ... WR Terrance Williams was second on team with career-high eight TDs. ... Sean Lee has 11 INTs since entering NFL in 2010, tied for most despite missing 34 games with injuries, including all of last year with torn knee ligament. ... Beckham a must for all fantasy players, but probably best to wait at least one week before starting a Dallas RB. Difficult to tell whether Randle or newcomer Darren McFadden will get bulk of work.

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