The Texans boast the league’s #2 overall offense. The Giants are going to be bringing the #3 overall defense to Houston this weekend. Something has got to give.
In every respect, the Texans offense has outplayed the Giants this season. In fact the only telling area where I’m sure the Giants excel is in tipped balls for interceptions. If you’re generous… maybe the Giants passing numbers should be higher in that sense, but it’s easy to put that issue down for good once you’re distracted by the stat line of the NFL’s leading rushing attack (172 yards per game) with Arian Foster and the Texan’s zone blocking offensive line. Ranked 22 in the league, the Giants rushing defense is already behind the eight ball, and they are certainly moving up in class this week. Kevin Gilbride and Tom Coughlin both agree that the system down in Houston is top notch, the scheme is fantastic, the line has been in sync, the coaching is there, and the final piece – talented running backs to work the field – is of course the thing everyone notices first. The Texans ability to not only control the game with their rushing attack but also break open huge running plays for TDs could easily spell disaster for the Giants defense if they can’t stop the run.
Of course the big vertical threat with the Texans – Andre Johnson – is questionable for the game right now with a swollen ankle. But it’s Friday, and this is a big game for both teams who’ll want their best players on the field Sunday afternoon. The Giants secondary though has shown they have improved from last year with Kenny Phillips back starting, and Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant to round out their 3 safety look. Corners Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas look to have another good game bottling up some explosive Texans receivers as well.
Defensively, the Giants have the clear edge but the stats are going to be skewed having faced the Titans, Panthers, and a run happy Colts team. The only team that came out throwing was the Bears last week. So like it or not, at best that still leaves us with some questions to ponder about the true state of Big Blue’s defense. Have the Giants truly turned a corner? Or did the Bears essentially lay down in NY? My money is on the 2007-esque corner turning, but I’m usually the optimist in the crowd.
In any case, the Texans defense has not been stellar, particularly against the pass. Remember, Donovan McNabb put up like 40,000 yards through the air in D.C (seemingly of course) but then again the Texans were still able to come back and win that game in OT with their offense working its magic. Will this game be an offensive shootout where the Giants will have to prove they can outscore their opponents? Will the Texans simply have too many weapons to cover? Or will the stifling Giants defense from last week make the trip down to Texas and provide some breathing room for the sputtering offense to continue its slow progress?
My thinking is that the Giants are going to have better execution on third down this week, more execution and first downs this week means they’ll have more red zone opportunities. And I think there hasn’t been too many instances yet this season for the Giants to show what they can do around the goal line. This is their week to shush the critics on the offensive side of the ball. If the Texans pass defense is really as bad as it looks (337+ yard per game allowed) I think the Giants are going to be able to keep to their balanced attack and find more success moving the ball from soup to nuts, and most importantly they find success capitalizing inside the 20. I also point to the Texans run defense as a misleading stat line, they haven’t played a decent run-first team yet this season. Like the Bears last week, I think the Giants look to exploit the Texans in an area no one really knew was an issue, even with Cushing coming back into action.
So I think while it’s going to be a close game, defense will once again win the day for the Giants. I believe they will stay fired up for this game and continue their level of play. They’ve looked good stopping the run when that was a clear priority… and last week with everything else working for them the Giants secondary did their job well in coverage. It was as complete a game as you can look for from the Giants defensively. Offensively with the injection of Shawn Andrews and Bear Pascoe as mainstay blockers, I think they finally solve their short yardage issues, ball control issues, red zone issues — and look completely and thoroughly good for the first time since week 1 of 2010.
[via NFL.com]