It’s the grand finale in Giants Stadium for Big Blue, who seeks to end their tenure in the building they’ve called home for 33 seasons on a positive note in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Simply put, the giants need to win their remaining two games to have the best chance at qualifying for a playoff berth, and hope that at some point, Dallas or Green Bay stumble along the line.
New York is pretty banged up this week following its emotional win over Washington, which despite the lop-sided score saw the Giants bring every ounce of energy they had to the table. Two seasons ago, the Giants re-defined the word “resilient.” Can they do it again with another inspired group effort from all three phases of the ball? Tune in to find out.
WHY THE GIANTS WIN
The “good guys” are back in town. When the Giants field the same team as they did on Monday night, you know , the group that played inspired, passionate and mistake-free football, they have proven to be unstoppable. The problem though is that the Giants haven’t really been able to be consistent in that regard in that they follow up a good game with a clunker. Let’s hope they finally break that trend.
The Last Hurrah. I’m sure Tom Coughlin, who’s a bit of a historian, has reminded his players about the team’s long, rich history in Giants Stadium, the building that bears their name. So with that said, they probably realize that the Giants team that opened the building in October 1976 lost that first game, and they probably don’t want to go down in the history books as the team that lost the final game to be played inside of that great stadium.
The Wrecking Ball. No, I’m not talking about the scheduled halftime video recording featuring Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wrecking Ball” tune, was recorded as a final tribute to Giant Stadium,, which will meet up with the wrecking ball in early to mid-February 2010. I’m instead talking about the Giants defensive front, which last week completely destroyed a makeshift Washington offensive line and who this week face another makeshift offensive line given that Carolina is without its two starting tackles. If the Big Blue Defense can somehow channel the energy of the old “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” on Sunday, something tells me that’s one demolition Giants fans won’t mind witnessing.
WHY THE GIANTS LOSE
The Injury Bug is Back. As I write this, I have in front of me an injury report featuring 13 players listed. While I know that most of them will play in this game – it’s too big for them not to – I always am left wondering about how effective they’ll really be.
Out of Gas. The Giants will be six-days removed from their very emotional and hrd-fought win over Washington in which they laid it all out. Will they be able to generate an equal of higher level of emotion and energy against Carolina or did they spend it all on Monday night?
Out-Foxed. The Panthers and Giants have only met four times in the regular season and once in the playoffs, and every time these two powers collide, John Fox gives the Giants’ offense a run for its money. You can be sure that Fox is going to throw many roadblocks at the Giants’ running game, which has shown more signs of life in recent weeks AND that Fox also won’t make the mistake that Washington made as far as playing mostly zone against the Giants receivers, a scheme they seem to thrive in.
GIANTS INJURY REPORT
OUT: None
DOUBTFUL: CB Corey Webster (knee); CB Aaron Ross (hamstring); RT Kareem McKenzie (knee); G Rich Seubert (knee);
QUESTIONABLE: None
PROBABLE: QB Eli Manning (foot); WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring); PK Lawrence Tynes (right hamstring); LB Jonathan Goff (hamstring/rib); CB Kevin Dockery (ankle); LB Chase Blackburn (ribs); RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles/foot); LB Michael Boley (triceps); S C.C. Brown (hamstring).
Note: New York placed TE Darcy Johnson (shoulder) on the injured reserve list.
CAROLINA INJURY REPORT
OUT: None
DOUBTFUL: RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle); RB Tyrell Sutton (calf);
QUESTIONABLE: CB Richard Marshall (ankle); QB Matt Moore (shoulder); RB Jonathan Stewart (Achilles)
PROBABLE: None
NOTE: Carolina placed QB Jake Delhomme (finger) on the injured reserve list.
PERSONNEL-LY SPEAKING
Will Beatty. Beatty has played well in place of Kareem McKenzie, but he’s about to face his biggest challenge to date in DE Julius Peppers, whom the Panthers move around from end to end. While Peppers will probably line up mostly against LT David Diehl, the Panthers might look to rush him at Beatty on obvious passing downs in order to force Eli Manning, who has gone two games without throwing an interception, into making a mitake.
Terrell Thomas. Thomas’ performance in 2009 is exactly what you want to see out of any young player – he keeps raising his level of play every week. This week, if Corey Webster and Aaron Ross remain out of action, my guess is Thomas will go against Stevone “Steve” Smith, the eccentric Carolina receiver who the last time these two clubs met, was held to three receptions for 47 yards. Smith, by the way, has yet to score a regular season touchdown against the Giants.
Kevin Dockery. Assuming Dockery gets his second consecutive start opposite Thomas, He’ll probably go against Muhsin Muhammad, whose best performance against the Giants came in 2006 when as a member of Chicago, he caught seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in a game played at Giants Stadium.
The Giants DTs and MLB. LB Jonathan Goff, DT Chris Canty, and DT Barry Cofield are going to have their hands full this week with Carolina’s power rushing game. DeAngelo Williams (if he plays) and Jonathan Stewart make up the third-ranked rushing attack in the NFL, and are averaging 148 yards per game. That’s not good news for a Giants team which is 2-3 this year in games when they’ve allowed the opponent to rush for more than 100 yards.
MOLLY’S PICK (9-4-1)
I have to admit that a few of Molly’s picks this year have left me scratching my head. For example, back in week 6 when she chose New Orleans, I was flabbergasted … but she was right. Then she picked Arizona to beat the Giants and I couldn’t believe it, but she turned out to be correct.
It’s amazing considering this dog doesn’t know what she’s really doing other than she’s getting a treat. But what I think this whole exercise proves is that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to correctly forecast these games (not that my puppy isn’t a smart girl – she is very smart).
Anyway, despite the fact that the pooch is forecasting some bad news this weekend for Giants fans – she’s gone ahead and picked Carolina to win this week – both she and her pet parents would like to wish all of our readers a joyful holiday season.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Interesting and encouraging stat about the Giants’ receivers, which of course was a big question mark heading into the season. Taking a look at their touchdown receptions so far, WR Mario Manningham (5), WR Steve Smith (6), WR Hakeem Nicks (6) and TE Kevin Boss (5) are now the first quartet in Giants franchise history since 1963 to have at least five touchdown receptions apiece.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Giants are 155-116 in regular season games played at Giants Stadium, which includes a 4-1 mark when they were the road team (four games against the Jets and the one game against The Saints the year Hurricane Katrina displaced New Orleans from the Superdome.) The Giants are 7-4 in post season games, bringing their total Giants Stadium record to 162-120 prior to their finale against Carolina.
TELEVISION/RADIO COVERAGE
FOX (Channel 5 in New York)
Play by Play: Joe Buck
Analysts: Troy Aikman
Sideline Reporter: Pam Oliver
WFAN (660 AM) will be carrying the game live starting with the pregame show at 11:00 a.m. Russ Salzberg will be handling the pre and post game show. Bob Papa will call the game with Carl Banks providing the color commentary. Howard Cross will handle the sideline reporting.
POST SCRIPT
In addition to the usual pre- in-game and post-game coverage, I’m going to have a special Giants Stadium Wrap Up feature online hopefully by Monday.
