Pro Side: Giants, Cowboys renew rivalry to begin 2012 NFL season

The Giants and Cowboys kick off 2012 NFL season tonight on NBC.

Two old rivals will begin a new season for the National Football League tonight, the 93rd for the country’s most popular sport. The reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants welcome the Dallas Cowboys to MetLife Stadium beginning at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Last year the Giants finished the regular season 9-7 before playing their best football and reeling in four consecutive post-season wins to a title. The Cowboys registered an 8-8 mark, including two late season losses to New York after they had led the NFC East with a 7-4 record. In week 13, Dallas coughed up a 12-point lead at home over the final 3:14 of the game to Eli Manning and Co. Then, in their 2011 finale, the ‘Boys were trounced 31-14 at the hands of the eventual champs.

The Giants are using the slogan “build the bridge” to carry momentum from their Super finish last February. The team is also hoping to build upon a running game that ranked dead last of all 32 teams, averaging fewer than 90 yards per game. 2011 starter Ahmad Bradshaw returns to the New York backfield, accompanied by first round pick David Wilson, who enjoyed a solid pre-season.

Dallas also welcomes a flashy rookie to their team in the form of cornerback Morris Claiborne out of LSU. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones moved up several selections in the draft to pick Claiborne who ought to bolster what was a porous pass defense for “America’s Team” a year ago. The ‘Boys also signed first-rate corner Brandon Carr away from Kansas City this off-season. The veteran is considered a top 10 talent at his position.

Normally scheduled for the first Thursday of the regular season, tonight’s opener has been moved due to President Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention tomorrow.