OBJ vs. Ramsey leads list of Week 1 matchups for New York Giants
By Henry Buggy
Eli Manning vs. Jaguars Secondary
New York’s 2018 schedule is loaded with playoff contenders, but Manning may not face a more challenging secondary all year than the one he faces on Sunday.
This list started with Jalen Ramsey, but he is just one part of Jacksonville’s elite secondary. Pairing him with A.J. Bouye gives the Jaguars arguably the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.
It was smarter to throw the ball into the dirt than to target A.J. Bouye in the 2017 regular season. pic.twitter.com/Umr7pFjgqP
— PFF (@PFF) August 10, 2018
Jacksonville also has talent at the safety position with Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson. Church is coming off one of the best seasons of his eight-year career and knows Manning as well as almost any defensive back in the league. He spent his first seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, playing Big Blue’s two-time Super Bowl MVP twice a year.
For Manning, it’s about finding the open receiver. He will need time in the pocket to make throws downfield, but he will also likely have to fit passes in tight windows given the level of talent in Jacksonville’s secondary.
dark. Next. 5 Keys to a New York Giants Week 1 victory
Luckily for No. 10, the Giants are stacked with weapons on the outside. Beckham, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram have all displayed the ability to be game-changers when on the field, and Cody Latimer has shown promise in the preseason.
The question of whether the Giants made the right decision on passing on a quarterback at No. 2 overall still hangs over the franchise. A strong outing from Manning against Jacksonville’s secondary would only validate the organization’s decision to stick with the 37-year-old.