Big Blue Should be Rested and Ready for Big Game With Falcons
Playoff implications on the line Sunday at Giants Stadium
Posted on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 7:46 PMThis past weekend was the most successful one for the New York Giants since beating Dallas in Week 2. They had zero injuries and rested key players while both Philadelphia and Dallas lost ground in the NFC East playoff race. All of a sudden, the Giants' four-game losing streak doesn't feel so bad with the 5-4 G-Men only one game back of the 6-3, first-place Cowboys.
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin may have his most healthy squad this season as Big Blue hosts 5-4 Atlanta Sunday in a key conference matchup that will help one of these teams' playoff chances. The Falcons come in banged up after a loss to Carolina, but that is not all they lost. Star RB Michael Turner suffered a high ankle sprain and could be out for some time.
Week 10 saw some key injuries to future Giants opponents’ players, but that will not matter if the G-Men don't start taking care of business by defeating Atlanta first.
The visiting team has won this matchup the last 12 times the Falcons have faced the Giants, but without a strong running game, Atlanta must rely on second-year QB Matt Ryan (178-for-298, 2008 yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs this season) to make big plays.
The Falcons have some weapons in the passing game for Ryan to look for. WR Roddy White (47 catches, 668 yards, six TDs) is nursing a sore knee, but when healthy, he and veteran TE Tony Gonzalez (44 catches, 501 yards, four TDs) can be a dangerous tandem for Big Blue to defend.
Keeping Atlanta's offense off the field will be paramount, and the Giants may get some boosts. The defense could see the return of standout DB Aaron Ross to a secondary that has been burned repeatedly during the four-game losing streak. Also, LB Michael Boley will be salivating at the opportunity to wreak havoc on his former team.
In what has been a broken record this season, I have called for Big Blue to commit to RB Brandon Jacobs once again this week by handing him the rock 25-plus times. Let’s see if Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride listens. The bruising ground attack led by Jacobs can steamroll a Falcons unit that has allowed over 130 yards per game, making it the NFL's fifth worst rushing defense. Jacobs has not received enough carries and is still waiting for his first 100-yard performance this year. With Ahmad Bradshaw’s playing status for this game listed as questionable, one would think it's time to let No. 27 loose.
Playing winning football this time of year separates the contenders from the pretenders. Around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Giants Stadium, we will find out which category these two teams fall under in the NFC.
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