Dallas receivers present problem for Giants' secondary

The Giants have faced some of the biggest names - and biggest frames - in the receiving world this season. From Steve Smith in the opener to the pair of Johnsons, Andre and Calvin, whom they covered in the last two games, they've done well. They are second in the NFL in passing yardage allowed and have given up only 10 passing plays of more than 20 yards. Only the Vikings (nine) have given up fewer.

But unlike games in which the Giants could lock in on one target in recent weeks, the Cowboys will present a unique problem for the secondary Monday night. They have a number of go-to guys running routes, from Roy Williams to Miles Austin to rookie Dez Bryant. Throw in tight end Jason Witten, and it's impossible for a defense to guess where the ball might be going.

That diversity does not seem to impress the Giants, however. "They call this a challenge for us," starting cornerback Terrell Thomas said, "but they have to match up against us, too."

For the first time this year, the Giants' depth at cornerback will be called upon. They've spent most of the last month with three safeties on the field. They could spend a majority of Monday night with three cornerbacks on the field. That means Aaron Ross and Bruce Johnson will see increased playing time.

"When we're called to step up, we have to step up," Johnson said. "We have a lot of faith in those guys [who are starting] and I'm pretty sure they have faith in us. If Coach wants to put us in there, they know we can do it."

Witten has long been Tony Romo's favorite target, and Thomas said that still appears to be the case. The tight end is second on the team with 23 receptions, and the Cowboys love to use two-tight end formations with Witten and Martellus Bennett to create mismatches in the secondary.

Opposing teams have been doubling up on Austin, leaving Williams free to make big plays. He has five touchdown receptions, including a 63-yarder. Austin still leads the team in receptions with 33 and receiving yardage with 486.

"They're big and strong and powerful coming off the ball and they have a lot of big playmakers," Tom Coughlin said of the Dallas receiving group. "Each one of them has exhibited that in this early part of the season."

The Cowboys' receivers also are big players. Williams is 6-3, 215 and Bryant is 6-2, 217. Even Austin, who probably is considered the "small" Cowboys target, is listed at 6-2, 215.

"We have big corners," safety Kenny Phillips said of matching size with size. "Corey [Webster], Terrell. Those are not small guys. I think we match up pretty well against those guys."

Thomas said he likes playing the Cowboys, especially because their glut of receiving threats means he and others will be in single coverage more often than not.

"We're not going to be able to double-team players in certain positions and we'll line up mano-a-mano and I look forward to that," he said. "We're corners. We're built for that. We're used to being on the island."

And sharing the island with such talented receivers?

"It doesn't matter who they have out there," Thomas said. "It doesn't concern us."

Notes & quotes: C Shaun O'Hara (ankle / Achilles) was not on the Giants' injury report for the first time since Week 2. "I'm still kind of holding my breath," O'Hara said of the injury. "I don't want to jinx myself. But it's feeling pretty good and it seems to be handling the workload." . . . LB Keith Bulluck (toe) practiced fully and said he will play Monday.