Post by plax on Oct 6, 2012 19:20:45 GMT -5
Sunday, October 7th ; 1:00PM EST ; Metlife Stadium
__________________________________________________
Top 5 Players to Watch
Cleveland:
5 - Mitchell Schwartz - The rookie will have a huge task to defense Osi and Tuck (and maybe JPP). If he cannot hold his own, Weeden will not have time to do anything, and end up being a long day for the Browns.
4 - Jabal Sheard - He is a great young DE for the Browns. He will be going against a Giants OLine which has struggled mightedly this year, and has hopes to take advantage. If he can create pressure, he can disrupt the Giants rhythm and make Eli go for quick throws instead of taking deep shots to Cruz, Hixon, and Randle.
3 - Sheldon Brown - Star-CB Joe Haden is out for this game as it is the final game of his suspension, so Sheldon Brown will get the go again as starting CB. CLE is lucky they do not have to go against Cruz AND Nicks, but Cruz by himself will be a big handful for Brown. Can he hold up? If not, it may end badly for the defense and the team as a whole.
2 - Brandon Weeden - He has shown some improvement as the weeks have gone by, but he is not there yet. This will be a big test for him as he goes against a fierce Giants pass rush. If he can get some nice passes off, and with the WRs catching the ball that is, CLE can set up TRich for a big day.
1 - Trent Richardson - I was going to put Weeden here, but the offense ultimately lies on Trich. He has been stellar this year, but he is going against a Giants defense that can be stingy at times. He has to be the one to control the tempo, and if he can do that, CLE has a shot here.
New York:
5 - Justin Tuck - Last year when he struggled, Justin Tuck admitted that he was contemplating retirement, but the rebound of his play and the dedication of the team gave him inspiration to keep going. This year, the same is happening. It has been said that he only has 3 QB hits this year. A star DE should not be getting less than 1 QB hit a game. You have to wonder what is going through his head. BIG week for Tuck, not just for his play, but for his football career as a whole.
4 - Marvin Austin - Rocky Bernard is out this week, so Marvin Austin (and Markus Kuhn) will get a LOT of playing time. Austin has been sidelined for the past couple of years with injuries and suspensions. He was a 2nd round pick a year ago. Austin showcases pass rushing ability and quickness that can make him an absolute force with JPP, Tuck, and Osi on the Dline. This can be the big shot for him to get more playing time and show he is the future for them at the position.
3 - Ahmad Bradshaw - Last week was not a good one for the NYG rushing attack. Granted, they had to pass alot because they had to keep up with Philly, but nevertheless, Bradshaw did not make the most of the opportunity when the time arose. This is his time to show why he is the no.1 RB on the team, he has to.
2 - Domenik Hixon - Once again, Hakeem Nicks is out with a foot injury (and now a knee injury). Even worse, Ramses Barden, who has played great this year, is out with a concussion, leaving Cruz and Hixon to do the dirty work (Randle as well). Hixon was good last week, but can he have a similar performance? Eli rides heavily on the no.2 WR, so this is Hixon's time to show he should be the no.3 WR.
1 - Eli Manning - Eli was not too great last week, so he will have to be the leader of the team this week in hopes to stay tight with the rest of the division, in which all have 2 wins or more. Nicks and Barden are out this week, so the task might be more than what he expected, but luckily for him, Joe Haden is out.
__________________________________________________
Keys to the Game
Cleveland:
3 - Confidence - Do not be afraid. Go toe to toe with the defending champs and give them a fight. If you expose flaws, Eli and the Giants D can exploit them.
2 - Avoid Mistakes- Against BAL, CLE had some shots to win the game, but blew it. If they can play a clean game and do what they want to do, they have a shot.
1 - Weeden - the man - This game is going to rely heavily on Richardson, but when it comes down to it, Weeden will have to do the things necessary for victory. He cannot be afraid to step up in the pocket and make something happen. Can CLE get a win? If they want one, it will have to be at Weeden's hand.
New York:
3 - Avoid penalties on Special Teams - Wow, was David Wilson impressive on ST last week, but penalties held up the Giants from a couple of the big gains Wilson got us. We have been good with penalties on offense for the most part, as the same with the defense. But is it possible to get a 10+ yard PR without a penalty? This team can be lethal if the answer is yes.
2 - Protection - The Eagles front 4 simply overpowered and out-maneuvered the Giants OLine last week. CLE is not known for a great pass rush, so the OLine better hold up or else there can be some changes in the future.
1 - Pass Rush, please! - It was said at the beginning of the year that the Giants would have one of the best, if not the best, pass rush in the league. They have gotten a lot of pressure, but where are the sacks to back teams up? If the team can get a good pass rush on Brandon Weeden, who has been average at best this year, the Giants can have a nice day all around.
_________________________________________________
Sean's Key Battles:
Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn vs. Browns Offensive Line[/b] -
With a depleted rotation at DT, it will be up to Austin and Kuhn to make an impact alongside a defensive line with talent. Austin has slowly become accustomed to the NFL after being inactive from football for two straight years but has failed to make any key plays at this point. Kuhn showed some promise in the offseason with a few run stops but his inexperience has shown up in the tape. Since Linval Joseph will be drawing the double team, there is a huge opportunity for one of these young players to help reignite the spark that the defensive line has yet to find this season.
Rueben Randle vs. Browns Secondary[/i] -
He was called out this week for an apparent lack of work ethic but Randle responded that he never heard such claims. Still, it's obvious that he will need to step up for the Giants outside the numbers with superstar Hakeem Nicks ruled out until San Francisco and Ramses Barden being forced from playing due to a concussion suffered against the Eagles. He has the size, soft hands, and deceptive speed you covet from a receiver and being drafted early in the NFL Draft, expectations will be high as he faces a Browns defense playing good against the pass despite the injury of Joe Haden.
David Wilson vs. Browns Special Teams[/i] -
For all of the criticism he has received so far for not being a factor on the Giants offense, Wilson has quietly made himself a formidable kick returner. He was the Secret Superstar against the Eagles as he consistently gave the Giants good field position and was a threat to take one to the house on each return. Meanwhile, the longest return the Browns have allowed to opponents has been to the 34 yard line. This will be an important battle as the Browns underrated defense needs this boost to keep the Giants prolific offense from scoring at will.
_________________________________________________
Plax's Predictions:
Stat Predictions:
Eli Manning - 342 passing yards, 2 TDs.
Ahmad Bradshaw - 12 ATT, 66 rush yards. 1 REC, 8 rec yards. 0 TDs.
Andre Brown - 11 ATT, 64 rush yards, 1 TD.
David Wilson - 5 ATT, 31 rush yards. 3 REC, 20 rec yards. 160 RET yards. 1 TD.
Victor Cruz - 12 REC, 149 rec yards, 1 TD.
Domenik Hixon - 7 REC, 81 rec yards. 1 TD.
Martellus Bennett - 5 REC, 72 rec yards, 0 TDs.
Defense:
Sacks: Jason Pierre-Paul x2. Marvin Austin, Justin Tuck, & Michael Boley x1
TOs: Prince Amukamara INT x1. Jason Pierre-Paul FR x1.
* FR = rumble recovery
Game Expectations:
The Giants just cannot afford to lose this one. I see a similar performance to the one against CAR, in which everyone clicked. The Giants must make a statement that they are one of the most dangerous teams in the league. I expect our D to come back to form, and our running game to be amazing, giving Eli opportunities to make some big play-action throws. I think CLE will hold their own, but it will not be enough.
20
34
_________________________________________________
Sean's Predictions:
Stat Predictions:
Game Expectations:
_________________________________________________
Madden 13's Predictions:
Stat Predictions:
Eli Manning - 21-27, 303 pass yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
Ahma Bradshaw - 16 ATT, 95 rush yards, 1 TD.
Victor Cruz - 4 REC, 33 rec yards, 1 TD.
Brandon Weeden - 20-43, 273 pass yards, 2 INTs.
Trent Richardson - 19 ATT, 97 rush yards. 1 TD.
Greg Little - 4 REC, 65 rec yards. 0 TDs.
Game Analysis:
Every time it looks like Cleveland is going to make a game of this one, rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden forces a bad pass, and the Giants make him pay, turning two interceptions into instant points en route to a 27-16 victory. On the flip side, Eli Manning completes 21 of 27 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns to help New York bounce back after their tough loss last week against Eagles.
16
27
note: Madden's score does not add up as the quarter breakdown has the Giants getting two FGs, but 4 TDs are scored in the game for NY, with scoring 27 total points. Oh Madden.