The New York run defense is a menacing unit. “That’s not the focus right now, the focus is just kind of on this game and trying to get another win”. “But it’s important because of what it means for our playoff hunt”. “The players know what they gotta to do win this game”. A win by the Giants would have given them the NFC East championship, but instead they were eliminated from playoff contention hours later when the Los Angeles Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers. These franchises are so different, and occupy such opposite poles of the National Football League universe, I sort of forgot they were neighbors.
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This time around, both teams are in tight spots in the postseason picture.
Darrelle Revis has all but been ruled for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
While many have downplayed the Jets-Giants rivalry, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins expects MetLife Stadium to be electric. “He made a guy miss and split two guys, I think, and just took off. I think we always clowned him and we tried to tell him he didn’t have as much speed”. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere that I’m looking forward to”.
This may not be the only injury in the Jets secondary. Namath went 14 of 16 for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-14 rout, resulting in the firing of Giants coach Allie Sherman. Phil Simms for the Giants and Boomer Esiason for the Jets. That sparked a 19-0 run for the Giants. Defensively, the Giants yield 309.2 yards in passing and 110.5 yards in rushing.
NOTES: Manning is the Giants’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes a player who displays excellence on the football field and in the community. The Jets should be aware that the Giants have been victims of late scoring during the fourth quarter, when they allow 9.4 points per game. Now with Geoff Schwartz gone for the season with a broken leg, what will the o-line look like against the Jets this Sunday?
Over the past four games, Manning has thrown 176 passes, with Beckham being targeted 56 times, or roughly 32 percent of the time. Meanwhile, Manning threw at Beckham a remarkable 18 times in the Giants’ loss to Washington, with Beckham catching nine balls for 142 yards and a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab.
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And because of Beckham’s propensity to make such fantastic grabs, the Jets know Eli Manning won’t shy away from throwing to the second-year receiver, who ranks fifth in the league in targets with 122 on the season. The last time the two teams played, in 2011, he had team officials cover up the Giants’ Super Bowl logos outside their locker room because the game was officially a “home” game for the Jets. For the G-men to be effective against the Jets pass rush, Big Blue will need both center Weston Richburg and right guard Justin Pugh to return from injuries this week.
