NEW YORK GIANTS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 
Vegas Line: Giants + 7.5
Rob’s Line: Giants + 6.5
When the New York Giants stunned the Patriots in New England three short weeks ago, they sat atop the NFC East two games clear of Dallas and had a week of basking in a very warm media glow. They knew that they still had to meet the Cowboys twice, but if they could split the series they’d maintain that two game advantage.
This was a good position to be in, but, aside from Dallas, the coaching staff would also have had an eye on the rest of the schedule and what was staring back at them was something quite brutal: San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay and the Jets. Any fears that may have lurked were soon realized as the Giants lost to both the 49ers and the Eagles and with Dallas continuing their hot streak, the Big Blue enter this one half a game behind the Cowboys, something that seemed inconceivable after the win in Foxboro.
New Orleans come into this on the back of a bye week and prior to that came an important win in Atlanta, a victory that came courtesy of a brave/stupid call from Falcons coach Mike Smith who decided that his team, in overtime, should go for it on 4th and inches from their own 29 yard line. I suppose the odds were in his favour because, after all, it was only a matter of inches. However, this sport hasn’t inherited the term ‘a game of inches’ without good reason and it was Atlanta’s failure to gain those extra few that resulted in the Saints coming away with the W, courtesy of John Kasay’s 26 yard field goal a couple of plays later.
Both defenses on show are remarkably similar when looking at the statistics and a cigarette paper would barely separate them. On offense, with Tennessee’s Chris Johnson running riot last night against the Bucs, the Giants now lay claim to the lowest ranked rushing attack in the NFL and they desperately miss Ahmad Bradshaw, who’s been out the last three games. Granted, he was only averaging 4 yards per carry, but compared to backup Brandon Jacobs’ pedestrian 3 yards per carry (1.8 YPC against the Eagles last week), it looks mightily impressive.
Bradshaw doesn’t play again this week which places the Giants’ hopes in the hamds of Eli Manning. After his heroics in New England, he’s failed to provide the necessary spark since, but I like this Giants team when they’re really up against it and I like our chances here with the points on offer. Both teams need to win, but it could be argued that the Big Blue really need to win.
Drew Brees is still on pace to pass Dan Marino’s single season mark of 5,084 passing yards and while he maintains that it’s never in his mind, he already has the ultimate prize in a Super Bowl ring so what could possibly be a more perfect accompaniment than claiming a record that’s stood for 27 years? He’s up against a secondary that is none too shabby, but it’s also a defense that’ll be kept honest due to the all round talent that is Saints running back Darren Sproles. He’s having a sensational season and is a dual threat and the type of player who seems to go unnoticed…unless you have him in your fantasy team maybe; consider him the poor man’s Matt Forte.
This potentially has shootout written all over it and while I’m loath to go too much against what I consider to be the second best team in the NFC, I really like the Giants to lose by a touchdown and still we can claim our winnings.
http://www.sportingopinions.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment