Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) reacts against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
2. Will The Defense Be Good Enough?
I am a strong believer that defense wins championships but lets not pretend that offense doesn’t win some. The New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers are all examples of how great offenses can lift less than great defenses to championships. The defenses of all of these Super Bowl champions had to be just good enough to win. The question is can the Giants defense (which ranked 29th in 2014) be good enough to give the team a chance?
The Giants have very attractive pieces to the puzzle on defense. They have a good group of pass rushers. They have a good duo of cornerbacks in Prince Amukamara and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. Essentially the Giants defense just has to be good enough at pass defense. If the Giants just don’t give up the big plays that get them beat, that’s a win for this defense.
If the Giants defense can hold opponents to field goals, the team will be fine. The Giants offense will put touchdowns on the scoreboard. I would be happily surprised if the Giants can be dominant on defense. I will settle for good enough though.
Next: 1. How Will The Offensive Line Perform?