A few days ago the NY Times Fifth Down asked the question- which team/s have the ability to beat the Giants. Let’s analyze which kinds of matchups would give the Giants the biggest problems, and then see if there are any teams out there that possess those qualities.
Versus the Giants Defense
Steve Spagnuolo has been adept at covering up weaknesses with other defensive strengths. None of the Giants cornerbacks are considered cover corners, but they are big enough and physical enough to play bump and run. When given enough time, our LBers (versus the TE) and/or secondary are as vulnerable as anyone else in coverage. We have seen good Tight Ends gash this team. To me, that is the secret sauce… good protection for a good QB who will then find that TE..that is where we are vulnerable. Summary: a strong OL which can pass protect combined with a good QB can have success against the Giants. When healthy, Dallas has that.
Versus the Giants Offense
Sorry, not to sound too arrogant (when have I ever been arrogant?) but this Offense’s only weakness is their conservatism. We have discussed ad nauseum about reaching their potential with #44. The Giants offense does not have any real weakness. All defenses like to rattle the opposing QB, but Eli has such a good OL that he simply does not get the kind of consistent pressure to make that a factor. We have seen Manning get careless with the ball, but that was almost as a direct result of having such supreme confidence in his OL that he forgets that he does have to get rid of the ball eventually(!). Summary: none.
We posed the same question to Wonder:
think NYG wins SB….in order to beat jints:
1. MUST control NY running game..if it means run blitzes, 8 in the box, etc..so be it…which means a GREAT one on one secondary..
2. MUST be able to RUN and then PASS (play action, etc.) so that:
a. DL just can’t “tee off” on QB…; and
b. QB/WR’s must have a GAME PLAN to take advantage of NY weak secondary…their TE must be effective
As for the team to do that ?? you would need a combo of TN,BALT, NYJ for Run D..some great DB’s, great LB’s from Oak, TN …as for their OFFENSE….would need TN’s physical OL and running game, IND/NE wr’s, and a Peyton Manning control the field/clock kind of QB…does any ONE team have ALL that ?? NOOOOOO!!!!!!
closest team ?? IF, IF, IF they can “get in”, I think the Cowboys are still a threat…I don’t think Ariz or Caro have enough…and as for TN, I just think if you shut down their run game, they can be beat..I know I’m biased, but actually NYJ IF they shore up their pass D, is exactly the type of team to beat NYG- great run D with Jenkins, etc.(assuming Harris gets back), developing Offense with TIME CONSUMING drives (again, assumes no bad INT’s), great, scary return specialist…and a good, if not spectular OL with a GREAT TE and TOUGH RB who can not only gain tough yds, but pick up rushers..but JETS achilles heel is DEF coord. and pathetic secondary “bend/don’t break” play.
Ultimatenyg here… the bottomline is that no single team has all the parts to make it happen. If the Giants stay healthy they have the inside track.
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