Michael Strahan

They are eight games into the season, holding a 6-2 response, emerging from the review and looking straight first place in the face. None of these aren `t your 2006-2007 New York Giants, are the Giants from 2007 to 2007.

A scene all too familiar a year ago that the players know they can "not afford to repeat. Much has changed since last year, many players have since left, head coach Tom Coughlin is a "nice" coach, and for the first time as I can remember, the team is Giants relatively healthy. A problem that has plagued this team since Coughlin has resumed.

Riding a six game winning streak the Giants going for number 7 as they face the first-place Dallas Cowboys, who are themselves loose a volley of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom Coughlin knows only too well the importance of this upcoming game. "There is no doubt a great game," Coach Tom Coughlin said. "It is in the division, he has all the excitement of a game of division that has certainly a lot at stake."

Eli Manning, who two weeks ago, had the worst game of the season in London, put this game behind him as he prepares for the challenge ahead.

"I think it's a big game for us," said Eli Manning quarter. "We just got a week off, so we should be well rested and ready to go. We know we're going to have to go out and play our best football. They played a great game on Sunday night, it will be a tough test. But I think that is what it is. You look forward to these types of games. "

This is obviously not the same Giants team that Dallas has seen in a week when Tony Romo and the Cowboys' high-voltage offense established 45 on the Giants defense what many "experts" fail to remember is that the Giants offense put up 35 points on the Dallas defense.

Week 1 appears as an eon ago, and everyone knows you can throw out of play because both teams have matured and have played much better since their first meeting in Dallas.

As the Giants play, nobody plays better defense than the Giants, especially the four before that could have three players to the Pro Bowl Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck.

"I think the week off came exactly when he had to," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "In the middle of the season, giving us a chance to rest, and we were in good health before the week off. With the injuries we've had the week off gave us the opportunity to work on these things, too. We are pleased that this second half and we know it is a challenge. But we'll take one game at a time. "

Nothing is more true with the old cliche, one game at a time. The next game is against Dallas in the Meadowlands, 4:15 pm EST start.

By: Michael C. Podlesny