New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints Preview

By Alex Lewin - InReeseWeTrust.com 10/17/09

Finally, football is back, well for the Giants at least. After taking a five week hiatus playing teams not worthy of playing Don Bosco Prep, the Giants march into the Big Easy to face the 4-0 Saints. This is not your father's 'Aints anymore, the Saints possess the leagues most octane offense, and a playmaking defense led by Giants killer Darren Sharper. The subplot of this game is Eli Manning's return to his hometown of New Orleans, but really the theme is if the Giants could beat a competent team. Lets look at the matchups:

Eli Manning vs New Orleans Secondary

So far in this young season, Eli Manning has had the best start of his career. He is currently the second highest rated passer behind his brother, and has 10 TDS to only 2 INTS, a fantastic ratio that until last year, no Giants fan could have believed this would be possible. The thing he does now more than ever, and this really started during the 2007 Postseason run, is that he looks off receivers until he finds someone open. His go to guy is Steve Smith, but if he is covered, he will check down to Boss, Bradshaw/Jacobs, or Manningham. Something you cannot say about Eli is that he is not clutch, and returning home this week will probably motivate him more than ever. Eli is not a rah-rah guy, but he is fiery, the players say that, and I expect him to have a big game. Just look at what he did in his last "homecoming" vs. the Chargers in 2005, he lit them up, and though the Giants lost pretty handily, Eli proved for the first time that he could play on the big stage.

Now, going against the Saints secondary is no walk in the park. When you think of the Saints, you think of their offense, but believe me, do not sleep on this secondary. Led by Pro Bowler and Giants killer Darren Sharper, who has picked off five passes already for an Ed Reed like 275 yards, the Saints possess a secondary that is capable of the big play, just ask Mark Sanchez or Kevin Kolb. The difference is that Eli Manning is just a bit better than those two quarterbacks, but remembers Sharper lurking at the safety position. Remember 2005, and 2007 when Sharper had three INTS returning two of them to the house. I would not be surprised, in fact, I expect Sharper to pick off an Eli pass tomorrow afternoon. The Saints corners are not nearly as good as their safeties Jabari Greer and Porter need some help from Sharper and Roman Harper if they are going to shut down Steve Smith and Mario Manningham. Former Pats corner Randell Gay could give the Giants some problems, but if the Giants stay away from Darren Sharper, Eli should be fine. However, that is easier said then done.

Is the Rest of the Saints Defense as Good as Advertised?

Led my former New York Jet, Jonathan Vilma, the Saints defense has actually outperformed their vaunted offense of late. In the last two games, the Saints have given up 17 combined points, and seven of them were on a fake field goal pass for a TD. The Saints have a good linebacking core with the before mentioned Vilma, and Scott Shanle who is second in the team in tackles and in INTs. Roman Harper is the other safety beside Darren Sharper and leads the team in tackles. The front four consists of Will Smith, Charles Grant, Kendrick Clancy, and Sedrick Ellis, which gets a good push up front, but have only resulted in 10 sacks. 6.5 have come from Grant and Smith, so the Saints need to improve their pass rush, especially against one of the top lines in football in the Giants.

How Can the Giants Defense Stop The Saints?

Ranked number one overall in defense, the Giants are out to prove that the Saints bark is worse than their bite. Since the Saints first two games, they have scored a respectable, but not outrageous, 51 points, which comes out to about 25.5 points a game. The Giants know this, and know the Saints strength by far is Drew Brees and the passing game. Brees has completely reinvented himself after arm surgery a few years back, and has turned the Saints franchise around from the days when they were known as the 'Aints. Brees has completed and amazing 68% of his passes, and what makes the Saints so dangerous is that he has weapons out of the back field along with Marques Coleston. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas are explosive and love to catch swing passes out of the backfield. Though the big threat is Colston, Devery Henderson, and Jeremy Shockey are very real threats that the Giants must take seriously. Now, how can the Giants limit this offense? Well, a good pass rush. If Tuck and Osi get around Jermon Bushrod and Jon Stinchcomb, the Saints could be in alot of trouble. The one thing about the Saints is that this Giants pass rush DESTROYS the Saints line, and you saw that against the ferocious Jets pass rush that disrupted Brees. If not for Mark Sanchez, the Jets might have won that game, and you can bet the Giants watched film of that game and will blitz Brees left and right.

The one thing that worries me is the Giants linebacking core. Michael Boley, who really was coming on strong, is of course out, and I am worried Shockey is going to physically man handle AP. Danny Clark/Chase Blackburn or complete non factors, and the middle could be wide open. However, the Giants secondary has been great so far, and though I am not sold on Terrell Thomas yet despite him playing well, Corey Webster has been simply fantastic and if he shuts down Coleston, could mean the game for the Giants. Send blitz packages left and right, get pressure with Tuck and Osi, and do not let Shockey beat you, and that could mean a "W" for the Giants.

How Can The Giants Win?

If the defense steps up and does what I wrote a paragraph before, and Brandon Jacobs gets it going. It goes without saying, if Jacobs ever gets it going, this team is nearly unstoppable. He is still #9 in rushing despite having 3.4 yards per carry. If the Giants run the ball well, and use Jacobs as a boulder, that will tire the defense and let Bradshaw do his thing. I don’t really see the heel being a problem for Eli, but the line needs to step up and make sure it is not a problem. They did that last week, but again, last week was not a real game. If they protect Eli, and keep him out of trouble, Eli could have time to dissect this defense and move the ball down the field.

How Can the Saints Win?

The Saints could win if Brees passes through the Giants defense like he did against the Eagles and Lions and to an extent the Bills and Jets. The Giants are going to be playing pass first, so if the Saints ever get Thomas or Bush going on the ground, it could be a long day for the Giants. As I said before, I am not sold on this Saints line, but if they ever give Brees time, it could be over rather quickly. A great QB with time, and Brees right now is defiantly a great QB, becomes a legend. So if the Giants give Brees time to pick them apart, he could put up over 30 points. Also, if the Saints defense plays like they played all year; make the big play and score, then the Giants could be in trouble.

Injury Report

What a surprise, Chris Canty and Aaron Ross are not playing, and Michael Boley is still out from having surgery on his knee. Everyone else will suit up and are ready to go.

Who Wins?

This is the prime game on this weeks schedule, a possible NFC Championship preview and in my opinion the two best teams in the NFC. Shockey has been talking all week, what's new, and the Saints finally feel confident enough on defense that they could make a serious run in the NFC. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and that is how the Saints are approaching this game. However, I just don’t buy the Saints corners and offensive line, and if the Giants have pressure on Brees they could wreck havoc all day long. I also feel the Giants will give Eli plenty of time to throw and he will come up big in his return to New Orleans. Since the 2007 postseason the Giants are 21-5, so going against them, not believing in them, just doesn’t make much sense. The Giants know how to win big games, it remains to be seen with the Saints, that is why I am picking the Giants.

Giants 27 Saints 23