Sunday, October 17, 2010

InReeseWeTrust.com Week 6 Game Preview: New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions (1-4) at New York Giants (3-2), 1 p.m. Sunday at New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
By Ben Kelly - InReeseWeTrust.com 10/17/10

What happened last week?
Detroit earned its first win of the season last week beating the St. Louis Rams 44-6. The Lions’ 0-4 start was deceptive however, featuring close losses at Chicago, against Philadelphia, and at Green Bay.  Has Detroit finally turned the corner? Unlikely, seeing as the Rams were the only team worse than Detroit last year and are starting rookie Sam Bradford at quarterback. Still, these aren’t your 0-16 Lions of 2008. Detroit’s core talent features young defensive and offensive skill players, not to mention second-string quarterback Shaun Hill, and we won’t know what Lions team we’re going to see from week to week. On Sunday, it will be the 1,085th day since Detroit has won a road game: Detroit’s last road win came against Chicago on October 28, 2007.

What to expect from the Lions:
Although Detroit has missed second year quarterback Matt Stafford since week one with a shoulder injury, the Lions have posted the sixth best passing attack under Shaun Hill at 250 yards per game. One fifth of those yards are earned by rookie tailback Jahvid Best, who is averaging 10.2 yards per catch. With star wide receiver Calvin Johnson dinged up but expected to play with a shoulder injury, Detroit’s passing and running attack will flow through Best and second year tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who has caught 25 passes the past four weeks and recorded his first touchdown of the season last week.  

What to expect from the Giants:
Detroit is 28th against the run this year, allowing 4.8 yards per carry and 133.2 per game. Rams running backs gained 128 yards on 28 carries despite an ineffective day from Sam Bradford, who completed just fifty per cent of his passes with two for interceptions. With Eli Manning conducting the offense, the Giants should have no trouble running to create passing opportunities and passing to open running lanes. Expect either Ahmad Bradshaw or Brandon Jacobs to break the 100 yard mark and also either Steve Smith or Hakeem Nicks again to break 100 in receiving yardage.  

Prediction:
The future looks bright in Detroit and its growing core of young offensive and defensive playmakers, including second year safety Louis Delmas in the secondary and Ndamukong Suh at tackle. Still, this team is 1-4 and inconsistent. The Giants shut down Matt Schaub and the NFL’s best running game on the road in Houston last week, and I do not foresee Shaun Hill or Jahvid Best accomplishing much more than that. They simply are not the same caliber players yet, and although confident after dismantling St. Louis, Detroit has yet to prove they can follow a strong performance with another, or even win back-to-back games, which they have not done since 2007. Giants win 38-17.

Week 5 prediction: 34-17 Giants (34-10 actual)
Season prediction record: 4-1

Versatile and Creative, Giants Limber Up for Race to the Quarterback

Barry Cofield (96), Chris Canty (99) and Justin Tuck (91) converged on Matt Moore in the Giants' season opener with Carolina.
By Mark Viera - NY Times 10/17/10

Who Has Stepped Up for the New York Giants Defense?

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 03:  Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears gets chased by Osi Umenyiora #72 of the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
By Reid Davenport - Bleacher Report 10/17/10

New York Giants DT Barry Cofield was close to being dealt, but now he's big deal again on defense

NY Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler two weeks ago.
NY Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler two weeks ago.
By Ralph Vacchiano - NY Dailynews 10/17/10

With New York Giants' defense rolling, coach Tom Coughlin no longer on defensive

Giants coach Tom Coughlin talks X's and O's with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell at Giants practice.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin talks X's and O's with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell at Giants practice.
By Tim Smith - NY Dailynews 10/17/10

Streaking Giants taking no mercy on 1-4 Lions

Streaking Giants want another win vs. 1-4 Lions
By Paul Schwartz - NY Post 10/17/10

Teammates happy to be on Ahmad Squad

Ahmad Bradshaw.
New York Giants starting RB, Ahmad Bradshaw
By Steve Serby - NY Post 10/17/10

Serby's Sunday Q & A with... Hakeem Nicks

Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants.
Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants.
By Steve Serby - NY Post 10/17/10

Giants sign K Shayne Graham, place WR Victor Cruz on injured reserve

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Shayne Graham could replace Lawrence Tynes in the Giants' lineup on Sunday.
By Zach Berman - Star Ledger 10/17/10

Big-hitting Jonathan Goff used to good-natured ribbing from Giants teammates

Jonathan Goff Giants training camp
Jonathan Goff has been given the simple nickname of 'Him' by some Giants teammates because of his blandness.
By Zach Berman - Star Ledger 10/17/10

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