Major Blog Announcement

I have currently switched my blog over to wordpress.com  I am working on making Giants Outsider into a .com.  You can visit the new Giants Outsider @  http://www.giantsoutsider.com/

Thank you

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NY Giants 20 SD Chargers 21 Week 9 Post Game

After yesterdays loss to the San Diego Chargers the New York Giants are getting closer and closer to the end of the 2009 season. Now that the Giants are 5-4 heading in to their bye week, they better have a good plan heading into the final seven games of the season. They will have to win at least five of the last seven games to get into the playoffs.

Here is my post game breakdown of yesterdays 21-20 loss to the Chargers.

Good

• Eli Manning truly stepped up and played a great game. He had one delay of game penalty whcich would be nice if he could totally negate those. Other then that his numbers were very strong. ( 25-33 215 yards and 2 TD's )
• Brandon Jacobs once again came out and ran the ball very well. He had well over five yards a carry. Unfortunately the Giants didn't stick with him the way they did on their first drive. He ended the day with 11 carries for 67 yards.
• The defense as a whole played with fire and inspiration for 58 minutes of the game by recording 5 sacks within that time.
• Eli Manning and his receivers got back in their groove of hitting on third and long situations throughout the game.
• The Giant defense was able to shutdown the Chargers run game to 37 yards total.

Bad

• The botched field goal. Not matter whose fault it is, it is a bad play that in the end was part of the reason the Giants lost.
• Corey Webster's coverage on Vincent Jackson was really bad. It seemed like Jackson had no problem shaking Webster when ever he wanted to.
• Why is Danny Clark covering Antonio Gates?
• Why is Justin Tuck covering Antonio Gates?
• The two questions above lead me to believe that Bill Sheridan has been trying to be a little to cute with the defense. Keep Michael Boley covering the tight end. And before Gerris Wilkinson got hurt, why couldn't he cover Gates? Or better yet, Clint Sintim has the speed and ability to be in space as well.
• Also Mr. Sheridan, why were the Giants in a cover 2 when Jackson scored the game winning touchdown? The defense should have been playing the end zone since the Chargers needed a touchdown with less then a minute in the game and only one time out.
• Kevin Gilbride played it conservative on the Giants last drive and settling with a field goal. The Giants had the oppurtunity with the Terrell Thomas interception to put the game away. Nevermind the Chris Snee holding, the offense could have taken some shots at the end zone to put the nail in the coffin.
• The main reason the Giants lost this game is because of penalties. You can't win a game when you are not worried about letting your teammates down. The Giants racked up 9 penalties for 104 yards.

Log on to Giants Outsider throughout the week for continued New York Giants coverage and analysis.

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NY Giants - San Diego Chargers Week 9 Preview

WHEN:  Sunday November 8th at 4:15pm EST
WHERE:  Giants Stadium,  East Rutherford, NJ
TV:  CBS

It is no secret that when the New York Giants play the San Diego Chargers on Sunday that the Giants must win going into the bye week to put a hault to thei three game losing streak.

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Contain Darren Sproles on kickoff and punt coverage as well as in the running game because this guy is lightning in a bottle that can strike at any moment.  With Sproles being small and quick the Giants will need to make sure they are on point with their tackling and positioning.
  
• Pressure Philip Rivers to keep the Chargers from being able to attack down field.  The Chargers have a great passing game and are able to make big plays by throwing down field.  The Giants need to take advantage of the injuries along the Chargers offensive line.
• Set the tone on offense by giving the ball to Brandon Jacobs to run through the Chargers defense.  I would like to see Jacobs put Shawne Merriman on his butt all game.  Running the ball will slow down the game and keep the Charger offense off the field as well. 
• And of course most importantly the Giants need to communicate.  C.C. Brown isn't that bad.  He just hasn't been on the same page as the rest of the defense and he hasn't been the only guy out of sync and out of position.

Log on to Giants Outsider for continued New York Giants coverage and analysis. 

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The NY Giants Main Problem

Whoever thinks C.C. Brown is the main person to blame for the New York Giants woes lately is totally not in tuned with what is going on. The main problem that has manifested itself with this team is complacency. It is purely common sense that this is the problem and my first reason is that the Giants had a soft first five weeks excluding the Cowboys who took some time to get in the flow they are in now. When you get complacent you take things for granted and make minor mistakes. When you make those mistakes,  it will cost your team in a big way.

For example last week against the Eagles a simple miscommunication between Corey Webster and C.C. Brown on what coverage was being implemented gave Donovan McNabb a wide open DeSean Jackson to throw to. And in the end they got an easy 6 points to close the half out.

Another situation was when Lesean McCoy broke through the Giants defense for a huge touchdown run. If you notice at the beginning of the play the Giants have only two guys with their hands on the ground. Osi Umenyiora and some other defenders are standing and looking at Antonio Pierce for direction. This took them out of the play since they were not prepared for the play to start.

These have been the types of things that have not haunted the Giants for a while and now they have creeped back in.  Right now they have dug themselves a hole that they know how to get out of. They need to just play the game and not worry about all of the audibles and play calls. They need to use their instincts and ability and play with heart and emotion.

That is what has been reiterated throughout the team this week and I totally agree. This weeks game will be no different from the past few weeks in regards to the competition when the Giants face off against the San Diego Chargers.

I am calling it now, this will be the week that starts the run at the Super Bowl for the New York Football Giants

 The reason I say this is that it is times like these that have brought the Giants together and made them a very dangerous team. Don't forget,  "Talk is cheap play the game".

Log on to Giants Outsider throughout the week for New York Giants coverage and analysis.

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Outside The Blue - Week 8

Observations from Week 8 in the NFL

• The New Orleans Saints defense is looking more and more for real. It will be interesting to see how they hold up being undefeated as the season wears on. Their schedule is very favorable for them to go undefeated. 
• The Titans got their first win of the season and it was Vince Young who started at quarterback. He will have to rest of the season to prove his worthiness of being a top pick. 
• The Broncos finally got their first loss and it came at the hands of a very good Ravens team. The Broncos will still be a very tough team to play as the season rolls on. 
• The Eagles team speed is very scary right now. I don't know who can keep up with Jackson and Maclin stride for stride.  
• Each week the Cowboys are looking more and more like a playoff team with the emergence of Miles Austin as a number one receiver they are very dangerous. 
• Brett Favre finally got what he wanted. He got to go into Lambeau Field and light up his former team with four touchdown passes. Now you can retire again Brett. 

NFL's Top Ten Teams 

1. New Orleans Saints 
2. Indianapolis Colts 
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 
4. New England Patriots
5. Minnesota Vikings 
6. Denver Broncos 
7. Philadelphia Eagles 
8. Dallas Cowboys 
9. Cincinnati Bengals 
10. Baltimore Ravens 

Log on to Giants Outsider next week for Outside The Blue as well as throughout the week for New York Giants coverage.

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Why the NY Giants Are Tanking

I didn't think things would get worse and I'm afraid to say they have.  It is truly amazing how the New York Giants have gone from one of the top teams in the NFL three weeks ago,  to a team that no one believes is  good anymore.  After yesterdays 40-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles  I can't blame the doubters. at this point.

I am not even going to bother to break down this weels game but instead I will breakdown what I see are the Giants problems.  I will break down each position below.

• Quarterback -  Eli Manning right now looks like he is a rookie and there is only one reason why I believe he is looking this bad.  I believe i is due to the heal injury he suffered back in week four.  His passes are very erratic and way off the mark and from what I can tell it is the way he is planting and throwing the ball that is making him make bad throws.
• Running Backs - One of the few bright spots in my opinion is Brandon Jacobs.  The past two games he has produced back to back games where he has averaged well over four yards a carry.   
• Receivers -  Its not the receivers fault.  If you think the losing has to do with them your crazy.  Like I said above with Eli Manning not throwing well the receivers cant make plays.  Kevin Boss and other open receiver have been overlooked many times and Eli has forced the ball into coverage.
• Offensive Line - From what I can see they aren't owning the line of scrimmage the way hey need to and are simply being out played by opposing defensive lines.  I don't see the effort and desire to go out and run over the opposition.
• Defensive Line - Its the same thing I see with the offensive line.  The lack of desire to get to the quarterback and to dominate the opposition.  The Giants front four look weak and pitiful right now.
• Linebackers - I will not question Antonio Pierce at this point but I don't understand why a guy like Danny Clark or Chase Blackburn are covering people on pass routes when they have Gerris Wilkinson who proved in '07 that he can cover Randy Moss down the field.  The Giants have been waiting for him to stay healthy and now that he finally is,  he isn't playing.  Until Michael Boley comes back I would at least have Wilkinson in for Clark who is way to slow to be playing.
• Cornerbacks - Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas have been playing their hearts out and doing a great job.  Bruce Johnson and Kevin Dockery have been up and down but solid at the very least.
• Safeties - I am not concerned with Michael Johnson.  Lets get to C.C. Brown.  I am sorry C.C. but your career as a Giant should be over.  Week after week you have done nothing but proved that you cant cover receivers deep and for some reason each and every game guys are getting past Brown and making big plays down the field.  Teams are exploiting his limited range and sending guys deep for big plays.
  
• Special Teams - You know things are bad when Jeff Feagles had a terrible game against the Cardinals and with Domenik Hixon's fumble yesterday things didn't look any better.

Overall I see a team that is flat and doesn't show the desire, unity or discipline that they have had over the past couple of seasons.  I really believe that this will continue to be a rough season for the Giants but in the end they will make the playoffs.  You don't just forget how to win over night and turn into a losing franchise.

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NY Giants - Eagles Week 8 Breakdown

When: Sunday November 1st @ 1:00PM

Where: Lincoln Financial Filed, Philadelphia, PA

TV: FOX

This will be the third week in a row the New York Giants will be facing a legitimate playoff contender in the Philadelphia Eagles. Right now things have looked really bleak for the Giants, after losing their last two games.

Breakdown

• As I said earlier in the week, the Giants safeties will have their work cut out for them when they will have to handle DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin deep. I know Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas will do a great job covering but the help up top needs to be on their game.


• Its time for the Giants front four to get hungry and win the battles up front. Justin Tuck will be lined up against Winston Justice. Yes that's the same Winston Justice that let up six sacks against Osi Umenyiora two years ago. I'm sure he is better now but expect him to get help from the tight end and/or running backs in max protection.


• Run Brandon Jacobs until the Eagles defense submits. Force the safeties up and exploit the one on one coverages that the Eagles will be forced into. The Giants offense needs to get back to running first to wear the defense down and then pass off of the run.


• Its time for Hakeem Nicks to step up. Mario Manningham is a bit banged up (questionable for Sundays game with a shoulder injury from practice on Thursday) and has dropped some key passes lately. With the respect that Steve Smith is getting from defenses it will open things up for Nicks to keep making a name for himself.


• The Giants defense will need to limit the Eagles big plays since that is how they have been most of their touchdowns.

This is a very difficult game to predict. I like Philly in this game but I can't see the Giants losing a third straight game. They have to be as hungry as they have ever been, after losing three straight games.

Prediction: Giants 30 Eagles 24

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NY Giants Have a Big Problem

The biggest problem the New York Giants may have this coming Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles will be defending the deep part of the field where Michael Johnson and C.C. Brown roam.

The last two weeks the Giants have been tested by two teams with serious aerial threats and the Giants safeties have failed. Most notably C.C. Brown and I hate to say it and it is obvious to everyone that he cannot cover and make up ground when needed in order to make a play. Kenny Phillips is being missed a lot more then people thought and it will be up to the Giants coaching staff and players to solve the problem.

The task this week will be covering Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Two players that are burners and stretch the field end zone to end zone. The Eagles so far through seven weeks have done most of their damage with the deep ball down the field. Teams have struggled to slow down Jackson and Maclin who have combined for five touchdowns in six games.

Not only do the Giants have to cover Jackson and Maclin but they may have to worry about Brian Westbrook if he is cleared to play after suffering a concussion on Monday night.

The key once again this week will be to pressure McNabb in order to limit his time in the pocket to keep big plays to developing.

Log on to Giants Outsider for continued New York Giants coverage and analysis.

Feel free to comment below.

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Giants Don't Have An Identity

For years now the New York Giants have been known as a run first team. Their main identity has been to hit teams in the mouth and roll over them with their bulldozer, running back Brandon Jacobs.

Coming into this past Sundays game against the Arizona Cardinals had the best run defense in the NFL. I think that kept the Giants from running they way they needed to. The Cardinals loaded up the box all game and the Giant backed down. It is not like the Giants to back off from running the ball. It shouldn't matter if they load the box or not. When Brandon Jacobs got the ball he was carrying defenders for an extra 2-3 yards. He had his best game of the season and the Giants did not allow him to set the tone.

Ahmad Bradshaw may have had his worst game of the season because they didn't run Jacobs enough to wear down the defense or even have a change up like Bradshaw come in. Brandon Jacobs had 76 yards on 13 carries. Which is an outstanding average of 5.8 yards a carry. It is frustrating to think that he was limited to only 13 carries.

The Giants seem to be having some kind of serious identity crisis and this week they need to run over the Eagles and it will start with Brandon Jacobs delivering the first blow.

Log on to Giants Outsider througout the week for New York Giants coverage and analysis.

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Outside The Blue - Week 7

Week 7 in the NFL was a week of blowouts across the NFL. This season the bad teams are bad and the good teams are good. I don't believe the league will be like this next season. There are a lot of teams rebuilding this season and a lot of teams that are ready to make a playoff run. Here are my notes from week 7.

• The Cowboys continue to look very strong with a big win over the Falcons. I didn't think the Cowboys would lose, but they impressed me with how they dominated the game. They were always a step ahead of the Falcons.


• The Saints were able to escape the trap of their own ego this week after pounding the Giants the previous week. Their ego and confidence almost got the best of them. They are a great team and it seems Drew Brees can score whenever he wants and control the game.


• Its time for Dan Snyder and the Redskins to clean house and what I mean by clean house is gut the whole thing. From front office people to players. Its time to rebuild in Washington.


• Its a shame a team like the Carolina Panthers who were so good last year- are horrific this year because their quarterback gets confused as to which team he is throwing to. They have a great running game but cant sustain drives. Time to draft a quarterback and hope for the best.


• Talk about an impressive win for the Bengals. They totally manhandled the Bears 45-10. Its amazing what a healthy Carson Palmer and a great run game can do.


• The Steelers proved they are the Champs for a reason with a big win against the Vikings. The defense stepped up to close the door on Brett Favre and company.

Week 7 Top Ten Teams

1. Denver Broncos


2. New Orleans Saints


3. Indianapolis Colts


4. Minnesota Vikings


5. New England Patriots


6. New York Giants


7. Cincinnati Bengals


8. Pittsburgh Steelers


9. Atlanta Falcons


10. Philadelphia Eagles

Log on to Giants Outsider next week for the Outside The Blue.

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NY Giants - Cardinals Post Game Wrap Up

The New York Giants came into Sunday nights game against the Arizona Cardinals looking to bounce back and got one big disapointment.

Good

• Hakeem Nicks made a great catch off of a tipped ball for a touchdown. And even without the touchdown he had a solid game.
• Giants pass rush was very good. I believe they only recorded 2 sacks but the pressure was there on almost every pass play.
• Brandon Jacobs came out running like a crazed monster and he had a very good game. To bad the Giants didn't keep pounding him.
• Lawrence Tynes made a field goal. Any time he doesn't miss one it calls for a celebration. 

Bad

• Mario Manningham dropping a sure touchdown. Manningham has a ton of potential but he has a lot of work to do to get better.  He also ran a terrible go route that was pointed out by Cris Collinsworth.
• Eli Manning was confusing himself with all of the pre snap reads he was making,.  He was anything but clutch especially on third downs.
• Giants offensive line. Aren't these guys the best line in the NFL?  Once again a good team pushes them around. The Giants should have pounded the ball down the Cardinals throats. 

Ugly

• The Giants secondary as a whole blew way to many overages.
• Antrel Rolle's helmet to helmet hit on Kevin Boss. How did the zebras miss that one? I would expect a nice fine for Rolle this week.
• Offensive third down conversions. Do I need to say anything else?

 
Log on to Giants Outsider throughout the week for continued coverage of the New York Giants.

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New York Giants - Arizona Cardinals Week 7 Preview

When:  Sunday October 25th at 8:20pm
Where:  Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
TV:  NBC

Another week and another game against a very good opponent that can throw the football down the field. The New York Giants will be hungry after last weeks embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints. Here are my thoughts on the game.

• The Giants need to prove that they have the best defensive front seven in the NFL by getting to Kurt Warner and making sure he is not comfortable in the pocket. Bill Sheridan is going to need to blitz the middle and get immediate pressure,  if the front four can't penetrate the offensive line quick enough. 
• I really believe the Arizona secondary is vulnerable to the passing game,  and the Giants may have to many weapons to handle. With Arizona leading the league in run defense, look for the Giants to pass down field and push the safeties back. I believe the trio of Smith, Manningham and Nicks will be to much for the Cardinals to contain in this game. This may also open up the running game for New York.
• With Domenik Hixon back as the kick returner look for some big plays. He had a huge game in Arizona last season returning kicks and I would expect nothing different in this game. 
• Its about time for Brandon Jacobs to come out and make a statement running the ball. I am going to go out on a limb here and say he will break 100 yards rushing.  Even with the Cardinals having a good run defense I have a feeling Bradshaw and Jacobs will be highly productive. 

Prediction: Giants 31  Cardinals 21

Post your comments below.

Log on to Giants Outsider Monday Morning for my wrap up of the game.

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NY Giants Face a Difficult Challenge

Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas might have thought last week was a rough week. Well, wait until they have to line up this week against Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. One of the top wide receiver trios in the NFL.

In my opinion Fitzgerald is the best wide receiver in the NFL, hands down. He doesn't get the recognition that a guy like Randy Moss has gotten because he has been on the Arizona Cardinals who have always been the laughing stock of the NFL until last season. People finally got to see how good Fitzgerald is,  when he helped propel his team to the Super Bowl last season.

Don't forget, the Arizona Cardinals were one defensive stop away from winning the Super Bowl. Fitzgerald helped carry his team by recording 7 catches for 127 yards 2 touchdowns. He is always able to display great leaping ability, body control and focus that I have not seen from any other receiver in the league. When he goes to get the football in the air he attacks it and makes sure he is the guy that will come down with it.

Larry Fitzgerald alone will be a big challenge, and don't forget the Giants still need to account for Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

What this game will come down to will be the New York Giants defensive front seven and whether or not they can pressure Kurt Warner. Last week the Giants secondary played very poorly but that was due in part to Drew Brees having to much time to throw which enabled his receivers to get open.

Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Kevin Dockery, Bruce Johnson, Michael Johnson, C.C. Brown and Aaron Rouse will have their hands full. But in order to be able to defend the Cardinals fierce passing game they will need a lot of help from the rest of the defense

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NY Giants Domenik Hixon is Full of Explosivenss

Since the Giants picked up Domenik Hixon off of the waiver wire back in 2007 and had him return kicks, he has done nothing but get the offense good starting field position. Hixon has averaged 30 yards a kick return in his career. That means that Hixon will at the worst get the ball to the 30 yard line if he returns it from the goaline. With his explosiveness it seems that every time he returns the ball he has a chance at breaking one for a touchdown. 
When the Giants stopped using him on kick returns last season, I really believed it was a big mistake. Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware are ok at returning kicks,  but they cannot get the field position that Hixon can.

I understand the Giants had to move Hixon to one of the top two receiver spots with Plaxico Burress being suspended for the season. But now that they don't need him as a receiver as much, he can focus on returning kicks. If Hixon continues to return kicks for the rest of the seasons look for him to get at least two kick returns for touchdowns because of his ability to see and read the field.

Hixon has great vision and burst through the seems that I haven't seen from a Giants returner in a long time. His vision enables him to hit the seems and make the cuts in order to make people miss. I really believe people often underestimate what a good kick returner can do for your offense. At times it can cut the field in half and make your offense's day a lot easier,  especially against a very good opponent.

He can be rotated in at receiver to add another threat to the passing game.  He isn't a great wide receiver but he can make plays at times and adds depth to the position.

When Domenik Hixon's career ends he may wind up being one of the best kick returners in New York Giants history.
 
Follow Giants Outsider throughout the week for continued New York Giants coverage and analysis.
 
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Outside The Blue: Week 6

Here is my take on what happened in week six around the NFL...

• The Broncos are a legit Super Bowl contender. A team doesn't go 6-0 for nothing. I do believe they will let down as the season goes on. Teams that get hot early have a hard time come playoff time.
• The Tennessee Titans have officially thrown in the towel on the 2009 season. It is sad to see a team that went 13-3 last season go 0-6 so far.  59-0 = given up
• The Philadelphia Eagles' loss to to the Raiders was typical Eagles football. Later on in the season they will win those games. For some reason Philly loses those types of games each season and then people doubt them. They find a way in the end to turn it on towards the playoffs.  I wouldn't buy into the Eagles loss to the Raiders.
• The Washington Redskins are a complete mess and it starts with getting a GM and coach that can lead this team. They will need to wipe out all of the old vets and start over by rebuilding through the draft with young talent.
• The New Orleans Saints are a very very good team. What an explosive offense and a good solid defense to go along with it. It will be interesting to see how they do in the second half of the season since they are so hot right now.

 Top 10   

1. Denver Broncos 
2. New Orleans Saints 
3. Indianapolis Colts 
4. Minnesota Vikings 
5. New York Giants 
6. New England Patriots 
7. Atlanta Falcons 
8. Cincinnati Bengals 
9. Pittsburgh Steelers 
10. Chicago Bears

Log on to Giants Outsider each week for Outside The Blue.

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NY Giants Loss Raises Some Questions

After further analysis of the New York Giants meltdown in New Orleans,  I have some questions that I am still trying to find the answers to.

• Is Bill Sheridan a good defensive coordinator or is he in over his head?  When the Giants have played good legit offenses in the Cowboys and the Saints,  the defense has looked like a mess.  I know the Cowboys offense isn't great but they have a legit running game and ran all over the Giants.
• Why wouldn't the Giants start Gerris Wilkinson instead of Danny Clark?  I know Clark is a smart veteran that can get the job done, but the guy has no legs to move in coverage.  I think Coughlin is being a bit to loyal to one of his old Jags. 
• Are there any good safeties that are free agents?  I know that Clinton Hart just got released a week or so ago by the San Diego Chargers,  it might be worth it to bring him in and see if he can cover people.

Log on to Giants Outsider throughout the week for continued New York Giants coverage and analysis.

Post your comments below in the comments section.

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Deja Vu All Over Again For The NY Giants

When i broke down this game Icouldn't help but reminder and think about last years Monday night football game when the New York Giants went into Cleveland Browns Stadium and got blown out 35-14. There are a lot of scary similarities to the blowout the Giants received yesterday in New Orleans. But before I get into that I have some other thoughts to yesterdays game as well.

I really believe that football is a lot more mental and emotional then people really like to believe. Right now their is no question the Saints are the best team in the NFL. But I believe that the Giants were riding a little to high on their 5-0 record . They rolled over some garbage teams and that can sometimes inflate your ego and make you believe you are better then you are. The Giants are a great team but they totally let down yesterday against a much hungrier New Orleans Saints team. The good news is that the Giants have the veteran leadership to bounce back next week.

2008 @ Cleveland Browns

• Week 6
• Score: 35-14 (21 point loss)
• The Giants secondary was torched by Derek Anderson and the Browns passing game.
• QB Derek Anderson threw for over 300 yards.
• The Browns ran for over 100 yards.
• The Browns number one receiver had over 100 yards in receiving.
• The next week the Giants played an NFC West team.

2009 @ New Orleans Saints

• Week 6
• Score: 48-27 (21 point loss)
• The Giants secondary was torched by Drew Brees and the Saints passing game.
• Drew Brees threw for over 300 yards
• The Saints ran for over 100 yards.
• The Saints number one receiver had over 100 yards in receiving.
• The following week the Giants will play an NFC West team. 

I know what you are thinking, the Browns are terrible and it was a let down game. I totally agree but losing to the Saints the way the Giants did was also a let down game. But it was against a great team. Also the next week the Giants played a really bad 49ers team. Next week they have to face a good Arizona Cardinals team. They are at home and will have a chance to bounce back.

Follow Giants Outsider throughout the week for continued New York Giants coverage and analysis.

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NY Giants Get Blown Out 48-27: Post Game Wrap Up

In a game in which everyone thought the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints would face off and play a game that would come down to the wire,  the Giants got flat out embarrassed. It will be a long week for the Giants,  especially their secondary.  Guys like C.C. Brown and Kevin Dockery had terrible games.  The Giants defense couldn't slow the Saints aerial attack down enough for the offense to get a chance to catch up.  It was a forgettable game that will stick with the Giants for the rest of the season as motivation to succeed.

Reasons to be positive...

•  Hakeem Nicks had a great game with 5 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
•   Lawrence Tynes was 2 for 2 with his field goals.
•   Domenik Hixon is back to returning punts and kicks and he did a nice job.
•   Tom Coughlin will make sure this team doesn't forget this game.

Reasons to be negative...

• Drew Brees threw for 369 yards and 4 touchdowns on what was supposed to be the NFL's best defense.  I thought they were a bit overrated since they hadn't played any great teams.  The Saints proved that.
  
• The Giants run defense gave up over 100 yards on the ground as well.
• Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for under 100 yards rushing today.
• Eli Manning was 14-31 for 148 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 INT.
• Plain and simple the Saints totally exposed the Giants pass defense. 
• The Saints exploited the Giants slow linebackers and safeties.

Other notes...

• The Saints are for real and clearly have the most explosive offense in the NFL.
• The Giants are still a very good team and will rebound.  They have the veteran players and coaches to rebound.
• The Giants play the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday night.  So far today the Cards are looking great against the Seahawks.  The Giants may need to start practice once they get home.

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Expectations On Brandon Jacobs Are To High

Relax Giants fans Brandon Jacobs, is not soft, not worried about getting injured, not losing his desire, and not giving up.

He is doing what he is exactly supposed to do.  And that is make defenses fear the Giants running game and wear them out along the way.  Don't forget,  when Jacobs was injured last season and missed some time,  the Giants running game slipped and it wasn't do to how well he was playing. It was due to the fact that teams didn't account for the run as much which hurt the Giants passing game.  The Giants offense is a run first offense that goes hand in hand with the passing game.  They need the running game to feed the passing game by being successful running the ball. 

Yes his stats are lower this season then usual with only 3.6 yards per carry, which isn't terrible.  He has a total of 355 yards on the ground with 1 touchdown this season.  The number that I can say is not good is the amount of touchdowns he has scored. 

In the end some argue Ahmad Bradshaw's production is because of Jacobs and I agree.  Teams load up the box against Jacobs and once Bradshaw comes in they back off.  It is just the way teams play the Giants and they have been able to take advantage of it.

As the seasons rolls on and the cold weather comes in,  Brandon Jacobs will get better and better.

Feel free to post your comments below.

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Drew Brees a Big Test For The NY Giants

Whenever there is a conversation about who the best quarterbacks in the NFL are,  Drew Brees' name always comes up.  He has been one of the most consistent and dominant quarterbacks in the NFL over the past few seasons.

Once he hit free agency in 2005 he signed with the he Saints and was able to put a city on the map that was recovering from its worst disaster ever when hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.




When i broke down this game,  the biggest challenge I saw is going to be slowing down the Saints passing game because of how Drew Brees makes plays.  What impresses me the most about Drew Brees is that even though he is fairly short for a quarterback at barely six feet tall.  He plays as if he is the biggest player on the field by making plays for his offense to keep the ball moving down field. What makes him so dangerous is his ability to get out of the pocket and throw on the run similar to Tony Romo.

The biggest challenge for the New York Giants will be to not let him get out of the pocket and ensure he is not able to make the down field throws that he delivers so well.  Bill Sheridan and the Giants defense has their work cut out for them.  Ever since Brees has come to the Saints he has been able to shred defenses with down field passes to guys like Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Reggie Bush.  The Saints have great weapons and this will bea  big test for the Giants defense.

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New York Giants - New Orleans Saints Week 6 Preview

When: Sunday October 18th at 1:00pm
Where: Superdome  New Orleans,  Louisiana
TV: Fox

Coming into Sunday this will be the biggest game so far in the NFL this season.  The New York Giants (5-0) and the New Orleans Saints (4-0) come in undefeated and poised to prove they are the premiere team of the NFC.

Both teams possess a strong defense that has preyed upon their opponents by causing turnovers.  The Giants and the Saints have well balanced offenses led by Eli Manning and Drew Brees.

In order for the Giants to win this game they will have to win two key battles in this game.

The Giants must do the following on offense...

• They must establish a running game due to the talent the Saints have in their defensive backfield.  It is vital to get Jacobs and Bradshaw going in order to force Darren Sharper up so they can exploit the Saints secondary.  The Giants are a run first team and will need the combo of Jacobs and Bradshaw to move the ball.  If the Giants can run the ball,  the Saints will not able to stop their offense.

The Giants must do the following on defense...

• Get to Drew Brees and get to him often.  Just like Super Bowl XLII the Giants will need to devise a game plan to take the Brees and the Saints passing game away.  If they can force the Saints to be one dimensional with the run they will win this game.  The Saints have a lot of weapons in the passing game and the only way to slow it down will be sack and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.

I got a feeling this game won't be as close as people think.  I have been wavering in my prediction but I will go with the following prediction.

Prediction:  Giants 27  Saints 20

Log onto Giants Outsider Monday morning for the Post Game Review.

Enjoy the game preview below..

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Eli Manning Finally Settling Down

This season Eli Manning is off to his best and most steady start of his career. I am not sure if it is the freedom he has in the passing game now that Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer are gone. Or if it is a sign that Manning is turning the corner in his career that a lot of people have been waiting for.

It became obvious after the New York Giants lost to the New England Patriots in week 17 of the 2007 season that Eli Manning with the support and confidence of the team,  was starting to get on the right track. Then once the Giants made their storied run to a Super Bowl victory,  Mannings growth had become more evident.

Last season Manning started off the season very strong and the Giants looked good but once they lost Burress for the season the team was not able to rebound the way they wanted to. Manning and the Giants suffered a devastating loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs. In that loss Manning and the offense looked anything but like the team from the season before that won the Super Bowl.

Over the past few seasons as the Giants offense has lost Tiki Barber in '06 (retirement), Jeremy Shockey in '07 (trade), and Plaice Burress in '08 (prison) they have been able to persevere and move on. And each time they have had to move on without a key player Eli Manning has looked better each season as a quarterback. This season has not been any different.

I really believe the Giants passing game is flourishing due to teams coming up to stop the Giants running game which was the best in the NFL last season and currently 4th in the league.  Also now teams can't predict who Manning will throw the ball to. Steve Smith has emerged as the number one target and Eli's go to guy.  But if teams try to take him away he has young reliable options with  Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks who have also not been shy to get in the end zone.

It will be a great battle on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints defense that leads the league with 13 takewaway.s and are ranked 11th in the NFL.

Leave your comments below and continue to log on to Giants Outsider for continuing coverage and analysis of  the New York Giants.

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Giants - Saints Will Be a Game of Match Ups

This coming Sunday's game between the New York Giants and the New Orleans will feature many key and intriguing match ups. Such as Eli Manning vs. Darren Sharper, and the Giants offensive line against the Saints defensive line. Here is a complete breakdown of all the match ups.

• QB Eli Manning vs S Darren Sharper - For the most part Darren Sharper has owned Eli Manning. Manning said earlier this week that he will do Sharper's hall of fame induction speech since he has helped put Sharper in the Pro Bowl so many times. In 2005 Sharper picked off Manning three times in a 24-21 win over the Giants and in 2007 Sharper recorded an interception in a 41-17 blowout of the Giants.  I would think after those expierences and a lot of film study Eli will make sure he avoids Sharper.
• LE Justin Tuck vs. LT Jermon Bushrod - Tuck has recorded 15 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass deflections this season. He is a force to be dealt with and Bushrod will have his work cut out for him. Don't forget that he will have to deal with Mathias Kiwanuka coming off the  bench as well.  Brees's blind side may be a big concern for the Saints this week. I don't believe they will be able to help Bushrod out with a double team since they still have to account for Osi Umenyiora.  
• CB Corey Webster vs. WR Marques Colston - I have said it before and I will say it again,  Corey Webster is one of the most underrated corners in the NFL.  And he will once again get a chance to prove himself by slowing down one of the top receivers  in the NFL when he faces Marques Colston. Colston has only recorded 17 receptions this season along with 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. Though his numbers seem a little low it is due to the Saints strong running game through the first five weeks of the season. 
• Giants Rushing Offense vs Saints Run Defense -  As we know the Giants offense begins with their running game.  They will be facing a  Saints team that has totally turned their defense around and has done a great job of stopping the run this season. The Saints are ranked 7th in the NFL in run defense with having only allowed an average of 83.2 yards a game. The Giants have the 4th overall ranked rushing offense with 160.4 yards a game. It will surely be a be a battle of the lines. The Giants offensive line salivates when they have the chance to run the ball.  

Leave your comments below and continue to log on to Giants Outsider for continuing coverage and analysis of the New York Giants.

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Opponents the NY Giants Have Faced Are Irrelevant

As week six has officially begun, I hear a lot of fans, critics and experts talking about how the first five games of the season the New York Giants have not played anyone good. The teams they have beaten are a combined 6-19. My question to all the people who say this is, aren't the Giants already a proven winner? Here are the accomplishments this team has built up over the past few seasons.

• The Giants have been to the playoffs four straight seasons. 
• The Giants have a 19-4 record on the road over the past three seasons. 
• Here is a list of teams the Giants have beaten on the road over those three seasons. Don't forget this Giants team hasn't changed much in regards to players. If anything they got "weaker" at receiver which is being proven wrong each week. 


• at Green Bay (freezing Temperatures and crowd noise) 
• at Pittsburgh (crowd noise) 
• at Philadelphia 
• at Arizona (dome noise) 
• at Dallas (105,000 screaming Texans) 

The Giants have been in many shootouts since their Super Bowl season in 2007. And over their first five games this season, they have done what most teams can't. And that is totally dominate their opponent when they are supposed to. Look at the Cowboys for instance they are a good team that had to beat a rebuilding Chiefs team in overtime.

The Saints are a very good team, they have a great offense and a defense that is causing turnovers. But to think that because the Giants haven't played anyone like them and that the dome noise will hurt the Giants is in my opinion crazy. This team knows how to win games and most importantly, close games in a hostile enviorment.

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NY Giants are a Physical Force

This coming Sunday the new Orleans Saints won’t just have to worry about the skills that the New York Giants have as a team but how physical they are once the game begins.

One of the biggest obstacles the Saints will have to deal with, will be the Giants offensive and defensive lines.

For starters the Giants offensive line feeds off of run blocking. That is what this line craves and enjoys most. They want to punish the opposing defense into submission. In doing so they have enabled the spark plug of the Giants stable of running backs, Ahmad Bradshaw to average 6.5 yards a carry. In passing situations, they take the task of keeping Eli Manning on his feet very seriously. Due to the offensive line’s consistency and domination of opposing teams this season Eli Manning has a quarterback rating of 111.7. The Saints defensive line is very talented but they are not suited to the smash mouth style of play that an NFC East team brings each and every Sunday.

Ok now, lets talk about the Giants defensive line that has led them to be ranked as the top defense through the first five weeks of the season. They are missing their big free agency acquisition, Chris Canty and Justin Tuck has had to play with a partially torn labrum. But, they are still able to put up serious numbers. The Giants are tied for 4th in the NFL with 14 sacks this season. They have also allowed an average of 104 yards passing yards per game. Drew Brees is a great quarterback but his offensive line has never faced a defensive line that is loaded with six starters rotating throughout the game. Brees is not going to have the time that he has been used to in the past. The Saints may have to max protect and leave a running back in the back field to block. Which may limit their game plan to an extent.

The Saints may need to go to live hitting this week at practice just to prepare for the shot they are about to get in the mouth when the New York Giants come marching in to the Super Dome.

Log on to Giants Outsider throughout the rest of the week for coverage on this coming Sunday’s game.

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Outside the Blue: Week 5

Starting today, every Tuesday I will post an article looking back at the NFL week that has just closed. This is the first article of the season.

Week 5 Impressions

• The Bengals and Broncos continue to prove that they are legit contenders for at least a division title. As the season rolls on it will be interesting to see if both teams can stay on a winning course.  
• The 49ers got a huge wake up call after getting ripped 45-10 by the Atlanta Falcons. They are a young team that will be ok. They needed a wake up call. All young teams do at one time or another.  
• Big OT win for the Cowboys, but it shouldn’t take OT to beat the Chiefs. And is it really necessary to elebrate like you won a playoff game?  
• Redskins blew a 17-2 lead over the Panthers to lose. I hope Jim Zorn enjoys his last season as an NFL head coach, because it is over after week 17. Time for the Skins to blow the roster up and start over.  
• The New York Jets are a really good team but their offense needs to mature a lot more before they will consistently be a big time team. After losing to the Saints and Dolphins its time to look in the mirror and see who you are. Which is a borderline playoff team and nothing more right now.  
• The bottom teams in the NFL are really awful  

Top 10 NFL Teams

1. New York Giants  
2. New Orleans Saints  
3. Indianapolis Colts 
4. Minnesota Vikings  
5. Denver Broncos  
6. Cincinnati Bengals  
7. Philadelphia Eagles  
8. Atlanta Falcons  
9. Chicago bears  
10. Pittsburgh Steelers

Log on to Giants Outsider throughout the week for continuing coverage and analysis of the New York Giants

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NY Giants - Raiders Post Game Wrap Up

Looking back on this game there is not one surprise that came from it. The only thing I can say is that the Giants know how to handle their class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”their “>buisness. I came away with the following, after the Giants’s 44-7 defeat of the Oakland Raiders.


Positive

• Eli Manning had a perfect quarterback rating after completing 8 of 10 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was so good the Giants were able to take him out before the first half ended. I know many were concerned about how well he would play injured and he was able to calm Giants fans nerves.  
• Ahmad Bradshaw may be the best running back the Giants have after running for 110 yards on 11 carries and 2 touchdowns. He has the explosiveness and strength to bust through almost any defense right now. He also added 1 catch that went for 55 yards.  
• Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks all displayed once again how consistent and talented they are with a combined 9 catches for 155 yards.  
• Darcy Johnson did a great job filling in for Kevin Boss with 3 catches for 26 yards. Travis Beckum added 2 catches for 12 yards. Beckum is a good young talent that will evolve into a nice weapon as time goes on.  
• Lawrence Tynes went 3 for 3 on his field goal attempts. Only if he can be consistent every week.  
• Justin Tuck – 6 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. Do I need to say anything else?  
• The defense as whole had a great game with 6 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. It looked like the Raiders’s offense gave up after the first quarter.  

Negative 

• No interceptions, i know im being picky.  
• Sinorice Moss needs to stop returning kicks. It is time to put Domenik Hixon back at returning punts and kickoffs. Hixon is more valuable as a return man then a receiver.  
• Brandon Jacobs - I know myself and everyone else is wondering what happened to the Brandon Jacobs of the past two seasons. 

Log on to Giants Outsider through out the week for coverage and analysis.

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NY Giants - Oakland Raiders Week 5 Preview

When: Sunday October 11th at 1pm
Where: Giants Stadium  East Rutherford, NJ 
TV: CBS

When the Giants take the field on Sunday they will look to avoid a letdown against the 1-3 Oakland Raiders before they travel to New Orleans next weekend to play the undefeated Saints.

What to watch for...

• Two of the biggest questions coming into the game will be if Eli Manning will play and play effectively.  I do believe he will play and he will have a solid game with two touchdown passes and an interception.
• Steve Smith vs.Nnamdi Asomugha -  Most people have Asomugha as the top corner in the NFL.   We will see how he does covering the NFL's top receiver through the first four weeks of the season.
• Giants will need to stop Michael Bush and Justin Fargas to force JaMarcus Russell to throw the ball.  The Giants want Russell to throw the ball so they can force turnovers and make this a long day for the Raiders.
• The Raiders don't have to bad of a defensive line,  now that they have Richard Seymour.  He has come to Oakland and has quietly proved that he is one of the top defensive ends in the league. 
• Its time for Lawrence Tynes to show that he can cconsistently convert the field goals he is supposed to make inside the 30 yard line.

Prediction:  Giants 27  Raiders 13

Log onto Giants Outsider on Monday morning for my post game review and analysis.

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Beast of Big Blue's Defense

He doesn't make flashy plays. He doesn't talk trash to opposing teams through the media each week. He doesn't carry himself above his teammates. Antonio Pierce is a team guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. He is the smartest defensive player on the New York Giants that always seems to make the right call just in time to make plays.

In my opinion, Antonio Pierce is the most underrated linebacker not only in the NFC but the NFL. He doesn't have great speed. As a middle linebacker you don't need to have speed. You need to be smart enough to put your teammates in the right position to make plays in crucial situations.

And that is exactly what Pierce does. During the 2007 NFC Championship game in ice cold conditions, Pierce made a gritty play by making a big stop on running back Ryan Grant with two guys blocking him to shut down a crucial Green Bay drive. He plays with guts and swagger that set him apart from the rest.

Last season when the Giants played in Arizona Pierce called an audible that caused Kurt Warner to throw an interception to Terrell Thomas.

As well as during the Giants week 2 game in Dallas against the Cowboys, when Bruce Johnson intercepted Tony Romo for a pick six, it was Pierce who changed the play and got Johnson in the right spot. Pierce has demonstrated time and time again how smart and indispensable he is to the Giants defense. 

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Corey Webster is the Best Corner in the NFL

While watching Corey Webster over the first five seasons of his career, I couldn't help but notice a player with all of the qualities that make up a winner.

Webster was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2005 NFL draft out of LSU by the New York Giants. He was a cornerback that coming out of college was more comfortable and acclimated to a man defense that would press the receivers at the line of scrimmage. But once he got to New York he had to learn a whole new defensive style,  to play from then defensive coordinator Tim Lewis.   Lewis ran more of a cover 2 zone style coverage in his defensive scheme. You could tell over the first couple of seasons how uncomfortable and out of place Webster felt and because of that he was never able to climb up the depth chart.
Fast forward to 2007 when Big Blue brought in former Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach and now St. Louis Rams head coach, Steve Spagnuolo. Spags came in with a whole new scheme that he had learned under former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. The scheme is more of a man defense that applied a lot of pressure by blitzing  linebackers from all over the field. It took Webster a few weeks to get used to the new defense just like the rest of the defense. By the time he did learn it,  he was over taken by Sam Madison, R.W. Mcquarters and Aaron Ross on the depth chart.

In Week 16 of the 2007 season against the Buffalo Bills, Webster got significant playing time due to other players being out with injuries. I believe Sam Madison was injured at the time. Webster had a huge game with an interceptionfor a touchdown. He would continue his great performances all the way through the playoffs by intercepting Brett Favre in overtime of the NFC Championship game to seal a trip to Super Bowl. XLII.

Since that time Corey Webster has done nothing but produced as a cornerback. I know you can argue that Nnamdi Asomugha, Darelle Revis and Champ Bailey are better. In this case I disagree due to the fact that  Webster's stats don't truly show how good he really is. He is one of the few modern day shut down corners in the NFL. He recorded 3 INT's last season, in his first full season as a starter. Jerry Reese and the Giants organization rewarded Webster with a 5 year $43.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed because of the talent he has. He is overlooked due to the fact that the Giants have had the best defensive line in football over the past few seasons. Guys like Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Antonio Pierce have overshadowed him.

So far this season Webster has shut down Santana Moss, Roy Williams, Antonio Bryant and Dwayne Bowe. I know they aren't the best receivers, but as the season goes on he will continue to show how good he is. Look out in week 6 when he has to face Marques Colston and the New Orleans Saints.

Log on to Giants Outsider daily for coverage and analysis.

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Eli Manning 2009 NFL MVP?

First off, I don't expect Eli Manning to be slowed down at all from the plantar fascists injury that he sustained Sunday against the Chiefs. I believe at worst the Giants may rest him against the Raiders. Eli is a gamer and will be ready for New Orleans in two weeks.

The first quarter of the 2009 season for the New York Giants has been quite an unexpected one to most people. The first of the two biggest questions coming into this season were if the Giants receivers could step up and replace Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer. The second was, can Eli Manning carry this offense on his shoulders and I believe both questions have been answered by Eli and the Giants offense.

Eli so far is having another great season. I believe he is having the best of his career thus far. There are still three quarters of the season left. But, if Eli keeps up the pace he is at right now he will be in the discussions for NFL MVP by the end of the season. Lets look at his stats compared to other MVP worthy QB's.

• Eli Manning - 63.2 Comp% 1039 Yards 8 TD's 2 INT's 104.1 Rating
• Peyton Manning - 70.8 Comp% 1,336 Yards 9 TD's 3 INT's 114.5 Rating
• Drew Brees - 67.4 Comp% 1,031 yards 9 TD's 2 INT's 108.4 Rating

 Eli Manning's NFL Rankings

•  Passing Yards 8th
• Touchdowns 3 Tied 
• Completion % 12th 
• QB Rating 4th

 Eli Manning's NFC Rankings 

• Passing Yards 2nd 
• Touchdowns 2 Tied 
• Completion % 9th 
• QB Rating 3rd 

He has been the leader and captain that has taken over when he has needed to. He did it against the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys who both dared Eli to beat them with the pass and he did just that.

Eli has teamed up with Steve Smith to help Smith lead the NFL in receiving yards (411), touchdowns (4) and receptions (34). All I can see is look out as the Giants will get back to playing tougher opponents come week six in New Orleans.

Don't forget to log onto Big Blue Blitz throughout the week for expert coverage and analysis.

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Giants - Chiefs Post Game Review

The Giants completed their 3 game road trip in a winning fashion with a dominating performance over the Kansas City Chiefs to move to 4-0 on the season.


Positives

• Eli Manning had a great game, throwing for 292 yards on 20-34 passing with 3 touchdowns. Can you say MVP candidate. (I will have an article on that later)
• Running game provides another strong outing with 156 yards on the ground.
• Steve Smith has separated himself as the Giants number one receiver. To be honest I knew he would step up. But for him to playing like a true number one receiver is somewhat of a surprise to me. 
• Defense played great, flying to the ball and posting 5 sacks on Matt Cassel.
• Kevin Dockery was active. Slowly but surely the Giants are getting guys back.
• Hakeem Nicks made a great play to get a touchdown. He once again flashed his potential. As long as he stays on the right track he may be a great receiver in 2-3 years.
• Justin Tuck recorded 5 total tackles and a sack with an injured shoulder. Nice hard fought game for one of the walking wounded. 

Negative

• Eli Manning's heel - Hopefully within the next few hours the Giants will get some positive news and he will not have to miss any games. You would hate to see him miss time since the offense has been getting in a groove as the weeks have gone on.
• Mario Manningham had some balls go his way that he should have hauled in. He definitely had an off game. Don't forget he is only in his second season. He will bounce back.
• The defense went soft in the 4th quarter and allowed the Chiefs to score two touchdowns. The game wasn't as close as the final score shows.  

Enjoy the highlights of the game below.

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Giants Have the Best Secondary in the NFL

I am about to make a bold statement that I am sure a lot of people will not agree with. The New York Giants have the best secondary in the NFL. You may think I am crazy but I will explain my reasons below.

 

• The Giants are currently ranked 1st in the NFL in pass defense,  with an average of 124 yards a game allowed through the air. Their biggest test will come in week 6 in New Orleans against the Saints.
• They are winning and playing well without key contributors such as,  Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery, and now Kenny Phillips. I know Phillips has only missed one game and it was against Tampa Bay. But you must also consider that the Giants have had only three corners active over the first three weeks because of injuries. Terrell Thomas has done a great job as a starter and undrafted rookie free agent Bruce Johnson has looked as solid as any other nickel corner.
• The Giants have only allowed 2 passing touchdowns which ranks them 4th in the NFL.
• The Giants have come up with 5 INT's which ranks them 5th in the NFL.
• Teams have averaged a 53.1% completion rate against the Giants which ranks them 2nd in the NFL.
• The Giants have done all of this while their defensive line has only accumulated only 3 sacks this season. They are ranked 25th currently in sacks amongst the NFL.

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New York Giants - Kansas City Chiefs Week 4 Preview

When: Sunday October 4th @ 1:00pm
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO,  TV: FOX
 
 
This week,  the New York Giants will wrap up a three game road trip when they travel to Kansas City to face the 0-3 Chiefs. This game looks as though it could be another 24-0 blow out like last weeks win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As we know in the NFL you can never underestimate your opponent and I don't expect the Giants to do so on Sunday.

 

Last week while the Giants ran through Tampa bay, the Chiefs got trampled by the Eagles 34-14.  It is obvious that the Chiefs right now are a young team that is rebuilding with a brand new head coach in Todd Haley and young quarterback in Matt Cassel.   

Keys to the Game

• The Giants defense must continue to play great even with a lot of great players missing. They shouldn't have a problem with a less then potent Chiefs offense that is ranked 30th in the NFL.  Their defense is currently ranked 21st overall in the league.hen I look at the Chiefs roster,  I see is a lot of mismatches for the Giants. They should have no problem establishing the run and throwing the ball when they need to. If they can run the ball and control the clock the Chiefs will not have a chance. 
• It will be important for the Giants to stay focused and not take the Chiefs for granted. The last thing they want to do is come into a game with the attitude that they will just run all over them.
• The most important thing for the Giants will be to get out of this game with no more injuries and make sure that the guys that are banged up, get their rest.
• With critics starting to talk about Brandon Jacobs not hitting the hole hard enough, he will need to prove doubters wrong and come out running strong. So far,  I do have to say Ahmad Bradshaw has looked better in games because of his burst up the field..
• The Giants were very successful in the red zone last week. The question is,  can they continue to put the ball in the end zone when they get down in the red zone?  It will be important that they do since nothing is guaranteed no matter who you are playing.  Just ask the Redskins.

  Prediction: Giants 27 Chiefs 6 

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