Loading ...
The New York Giants original plan to face the Minnesota Vikings in the Metrodome fell apart Sunday when the Teflon roof of the dome collapsed under heavy snow. The problems first started when the Giants got stranded in Kansas City due to the same weather. When the roof collapsed at the Metrodome, the NFL had to act quickly to decide where the game would be played. They finally decided to have the game in Detroit's Ford Field on Monday at 7:20pm. Through all of this, the Giants were stuck in Kansas City, unsure of their schedule. The uncertainty and change of venue will certainly be a distraction when the two teams finally face each other.
Now that the venue has been decided and both teams are on the move, there are serious implications to discuss. Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre, said that he certainly would not have played on Sunday, but the 30 hour time difference could change that. The delay in the game also gave wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith more time to decide if they are healthy enough to play. Both teams will be anxious, antsy and ready to play by the time they kick off on Monday. The biggest question, in my mind, will be how the two teams react to all of the distractions.
GIANTS KEYS TO VICTORY
Pressure the Quarterback
Whether Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson starts is a moot point. Both quarterbacks are prone to throwing interceptions. Big Blue is tied for third in the NFL in total sacks with 35, averaging nearly three per game. They're in the middle of the pack (tied for 12th) in interceptions. They have 29 forced fumbles (17 recovered) on the season. They forced Donovan McNabb to fumble the ball three times last week. If they can do the same this week, it will force the Vikings to rely more on Adrian Peterson who will have to face the tough Giants linebackers.
The Offensive Line Must Hold
The Vikings have the sixth ranked defense in the NFL. In order for the Giants to pull off a win, the offensive line must continue to do what it has done over the past few weeks. They need to give Eli Manning time to throw and time to make good decisions with those throws. They need to give Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw room to run. Jacobs has the capability to run over anyone in his way, but if the line creates holes for him, his job will be that much easier. Bradshaw can cut and leap all over the field, but if he doesn't have to he'll gain more yards. The offense must move the ball down the field and score points to win. The offensive line has a test ahead of them. It's time they prove they're as good as we think they are.
GAMEPLAN
Test the rush defense
While the Vikings have the fourth best rush defense in the league, they haven't seen a back the likes of Brandon Jacobs. They also haven't faced a team with a duo like that of the Giants. Ahmad Bradshaw and Jacobs compliment each other in their diversity, and that throws off defenses. Jacobs has arguably more power than any other back in the league. Big Blue needs to test the defense by switching up the backs and giving them different looks. Jacobs for power, Bradshaw for finesse.
Attack the Offensive Line
The Giants defense is one of the best in the league. They've got great speed for their size, and they've got some good safeties that can come up and blitz nicely. I'm not saying blitz on every play, but Big Blue needs to have Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora both walk away with a big game. They're both capable of getting off the block or holding someone back so another player can get at the quarterback. They'll be able to wear the offensive line out quickly, limiting the quarterback as well as Adrian Peterson.
Get the crowd involved
This game should have been played in enemy territory. Instead, Detroit will play host as these two teams go head to head. There may not be much of a crowd at all, or it may be a full house with the tickets being free. Regardless, no one in Detroit is likely to root for Minnesota, a team from the same NFC North division. Besides, it will be near impossible to get out of Minnesota to get to the game. The Giants now have the upper hand with the crowd. They need to get them involved and do it early so that the Vikings know who is in control of the game.
BIG GAME FOR…
Over the last few days I've been saying it until my face is blue, the offense has got to look at Jacobs tomorrow. He'll be the main contributor in getting the ball down the field as he can rush on short yardage to gain a first down. He will be a big factor in how many points are scored not just because he can gain yards, but he's a power back that can punch it in on the goal line. When the offense lets him take the lead, Jacobs needs to respond by playing to the best of his ability.
Prediction
Big Blue's confidence is rising with each win. They've made many adjustments this season and overcome each one. The change in venue, getting stuck in Kansas City, the shortened week before the Philadelphia game are all distractions, but come tomorrow at 7:20pm, all of that is out the window. The Giants are getting some key players back this week and the Vikings are likely to be without Favre. I fully expect the Giants to come out swinging and put another win under their belts as they continue their run at the playoffs.
Giants 20, Vikings 7
Related Videos
Returning Soon!!!!No related posts.
Short URL: http://www.giants101.com/3rdand1/19a
I think the extra day of being stranded together will bond our guys and they’ll come out playing strong together. I’m looking for a pretty convincing win by Big Blue.
Demo – NE recently has been blowing everyone out so I wouldn’t be so quick to bash Chicago. I have been a non-believer in NE being great but I’m seeing that I probably have to eat those words. Chicago hasn’t been blown out all season so until further notice I think it’s more justified to give NE credit for being the best NFL team right now. If Chicago is a fraud, the Jets surely would be also and Chicago hosts the Jets next week. Chicago also play a GB team that could be out of the playoff picture by the last week. GB plays at NE and us in the next 2 weeks. I think we still need to get to 11-5.
Tampa is also a threat to get to 11-5. No, they aren’t a great team but Detroit and Seattle at home in the next 2 should get them to 10-5. They finish up at NO but we don’t know what they will have to play for at that point so it could be much more winnable than it appears.
From my calculations, we would have a 4-0 to 3-0 common opponents’ edge (Det, Sea and Wash) over Tampa if we only lose to Philly. Is that considered winning a tiebreaker?
However, we got a major break in going from a hostile environment to a neutral field. With a nearly healthy squad there are no excuses, we should win at least 3 out of 4 if not all games.
Given the neutral field, Minn strength against the run and the resurgent health of our WRs I expect a much more aggressive game plan than we have seen in a while. I think Eli and Gilbride will use playaction to attack Minn back 7 early and often. Before the Steve Smith injury we were very aggressive in attacking defenses through the air, I expect us to return to those ways vs. Minn.
Agreed. As a matter of fact, this may be the last opportunity of the regular season to really look to strike through the air. Unlikely to have great weather next Sunday, the next week in Green Bay, or the week thereafter in Washington.
Let’s just hope the Cowboys find a way to pull this game out somehow.
The Eagles don’t blow important games down the stretch.
Not in the regular season, anyway.
Except for 2009, when they lost the division to the Cowboys in embarrassing fashion.
And 2007, when losing three in a row to end November/begin December (including their second loss of the year to the Giants) cost them a playoff spot.
I watched last night’s Eagles-Cowboys game in a state of perpetual cognitive dissonance: it nauseated me to think that I had to root for the Cowboys, but I did it; I knew that I needed the Eagles to lose, but I still needed a big showing from Desean in order to put away Samard in the first week of the playoffs. But, honestly, when it seemed evident that the Eagles would win, I decided that I was okay with it: I want to beat them next week and I want it to be for the division. I didn’t want to overtake them tonight when we beat the Vikes…no, I want to do it on national television, at home, in front of our fans.
Oh, and I beat Samard on that 91 yd TD! Week one of the matchup goes to me. I’m also beating jcharles in the other fantasy league, with Boldin and Shiancoe still to play. #5 seed in both leagues! The Meat Locker is makin’ room for some new carcasses!
Unfortunately, the Eagles win means next week the Giants cannot win the division.
We always knew it would come down to this.
I’ll be interested to see how serious Rodgers’ concussion is as it will obviously affect how long he’s out and whether he’ll be around for the day after Christmas game. Without him, the Packers are woeful–Terry Bradshaw said something to that effect on the pregame show prior to his injury, as a matter of fact. You don’t want to see players hurt, but I wouldn’t mind if this injury forced the Packers to be extra conservative in their approach to get him healthy. Give him 2 weeks off and he should be fine!
I feel comfortable about playing this weeks game and Im going with the Giants to win 28-17 .
I feel its like one of those situations that you dont have time to think but the effects hit you after the fact , and Im worried that this disruption and the short week before we face the Eagles will have a negative effect on the Giants effort next week .
I’m not worried about a damn thing! Look at the Patriots–they didn’t miss a beat yesterday after their huge MNF game. If this team is tough and as good as we think it is, the core simply will not allow these crazy happenings to distract them.
I take issue, however, with the article’s assertion that Jacobs is an effective short yardage and goalline back. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I’m sure that you’d find that he’s not particularly effective in 3rd and shorts; however, I recent read an article that said that Bradshaw was one of the best 3rd down and goal line backs for all the reasons we already know. Jacobs’ should always run as low as he did last week–it would make him an unstoppable force, particularly in short yardage situations. But he hasn’t really done that before, and until he shows me otherwise, I can’t accept that he’s a good short yardage option.
He’s not going to get the chance to show you. The Giants go to Bradshaw almost exclusively on 3rd & short now.
Jacobs started his career off really well on short yardage, but I agree it seems like he hasn’t been good for a few years now. I don’t know the stats though.
Some tidbits for a Monday morning:
* 9 out of the last 10 seasons the Giants have had the Vikings on their regular season schedule.
* 7 of those 9 games have been hosted by the Vikings …. the NFL attributes this home/away imbalance to a “scheduling quirk” ….yep, that’s a good enough explanation for me, makes total sense.
Quote of the Day:
“They have really taken it in stride very well,” Giants co-owner John Mara said of the players. “They have been laughing and joking about it. They have taken it about as well as possibly can be expected and that includes the head coach by the way.” …….I am sure Coughlin is all poops and giggles over this development.
Good Morning All.
What a crazy day yesterday.
Almost a trifecta for the Giants.
Chicago goes down
The Pack goes down and maybe out
The Cowboys come ever so close, but they forever disappoint.
But with Tampa hanging tough (thank you so much Washington – hike it over his head? over his head? on a PAT? are you kidding me?), 11-5 still looks like the mark to hit.
I guess the biggest question mark tonight is then arrival time. Talk about getting to the game early! Antrell, Antrell, how is this working?
Seriously, the game tonight is more critical than ever. Tampa is poised to go 11-5 (assuming NO has nothing to play for Week 17), the Bears now look to have the North locked, and GB appears to be done unless they can pull off a miracle in Foxboro this week without Rodgers.
A win tonight and we still have 1 game to play with. A loss and it will all come down to Philly and our psychological bed-wetting. Tonight is big. Any word on Nicks/Smith/Diehl?