Suddenly, the Jets appear to be the favorites, the more complete team with a chance to earn the Big Apple its first playoff appearance in four years.
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For a team that averages a 28th-ranked 89.4 rushing yards per game which faces the Jets’ run defense that has allowed a league-low 84.4 yards per game, the Giants sorely need to control scrimmage and force the Jets’ blitzers defense to respect the run.
Bowles had said Thursday that Williams would likely be a game-time decision, and the cornerback said he’s still approaching his status as such.
“I don’t think it’s a rivalry because you don’t play them as much”, he said. It’s not all that often.
But the most interesting part is how much both teams have resembled each other’s past selves this year.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Jets’ Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker have caught touchdown passes in the same game six times this season.
Pace compared Beckham to Houston star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who is third in the National Football League with 81 catches – five of them coming against the Jets two weeks ago. Will this be another jumping off spot for the Giants on a Super Bowl run? They missed a golden opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the division last week against the Redskins, and now will have to fight and scrap throughout the rest of the season and hope the Redskins lose some games. “I’ve made incremental steps, so that’s positive”.
Odell Beckham Jr. could astound fans with one hand tied behind his back. Antonio Cromartie could draw the assignment of covering Beckham, although Bowles wouldn’t give away the team’s game plan. The Jets’ No. 3 ranked defense (323.9 yards per game) will look to capitalize on health issues plaguing the Giants’ offensive line. Beckham was targeted a whopping 18 times last week against Washington, catching half of his passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. So high that Eli Manning – never one to overhype, well, anything – delivered a reminder to the young Giants who have never played in this game, which everyone insists is not a rivalry. They must get similar pressure on Manning, who threw three interceptions in a loss at Washington last week.
“Eli has been in games like this a lot”, says Coughlin. Neal Sterling (illness) and Bryan Walters (back) are listed as questionable. He’s bound to have off days given his advanced age and the fact that he’s been doing it for so long, but Week 13 against the Giants is looking like a tasty matchup.
Jets passing game: Last week Ryan Fitzpatrick had one of his best games of the season throwing for 277 yards and 4 TDs.
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Giants: Everything the Giants will try to do offensively hinges on the health and performance of their offensive line against the Jets’ greatest strength. You only play them once every (four) years. Although it’s a Giants home game, there should be close to an even amount of Giants and Jets fan in the stands at MetLife, creating one of the more memorable atmospheres since the stadium opened.
