IRVING, Texas -- A stats-eye view of Sunday's meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants thanks to the fine folks with ESPN Stats & Information:
This is the 17th time in history the Cowboys have started 5-1 or better through six games, with the team making the playoffs every time previously.
Let's go streaking: The Cowboys will be looking for their sixth straight win on Sunday, something they have not done since 2007 when they finished 13-3 and had the best record in the NFC. DeMarco Murray will be looking for his seventh straight game with 100 yards.
No running back has done that in NFL history.
In fact, the last Cowboy to have six 100-yard rushing games for an entire season was Emmitt Smith in 2000. The NFL's all-time leading rusher had nine 100-yard games in 1999.
Finally a “D” in Cowboys defense: Last year's Cowboys defense allowed 6,645 yards, third most in NFL history. Dallas was the only team in the league to allowed more than 400 yards per game (415.3). This year's team is 5-1 thanks in no small part to defensive improvement.
Slow going through the air: Remember when the Cowboys were lit up last year by backup quarterbacks like Josh McCown and Matt Flynn and had poor moments against guys like Matt McGloin and Kirk Cousins?
This season the Cowboys' 227.5 pass yards allowed per game ranks 12th best in the league. Only six teams have allowed fewer touchdowns per game than the Cowboys (1.3).
Statistically the pass defense looks much better than where they were at this time a year ago
Better than you think: Critics have pointed to a soft schedule as the reason for a hot start defensively. But it's worth noting that every quarterback the Cowboys have played this season had a 2013 QBR above league average, with the exception of Austin Davis (played his first game in 2014).