Both the Giants and Falcons need a win badly. Both teams are 5-4, slumping and hampered by injuries.
The Giants learned Friday that middle linebacker Antonio Pierce would be out indefinitely with a neck injury. Falcons star running back Michael Turner (high ankle sprain) is not expected to play, either.
A loss could be devastating for the Giants, riding a four-game losing streak after a 5-0 start. Quarterback Eli Manning
says both the Giants and Falcons will play with a sense of desperation today.
"We are in similar situations," Manning said. "We know they will come ready to play. They have lost three of their last four, and so they are going to feel they have something to prove, just like us."
A look at five players who must step up:
1. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
These are the kind of games Falcons officials had in mind when they traded for Gonzalez. If Gonzalez can get open in the red zone and in third-down situations, it will go a long way toward helping QB Matt Ryan end his slump.
"(Gonzalez) is a tough matchup," Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said. "He is a big third-down guy for them. Almost everybody they play against forms some kind of double bracket on him. He still does a good job of shaking people off and getting to the first-down marker."
2. Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants
He does not have a 100-yard rushing game this season. But as colder weather approaches, look for the Giants to rely more on their running game. The Falcons gave up 185 yards rushing to the Panthers last week, so Jacobs and running mate Ahmad Bradshaw could be primed for big days.
"We've been averaging close to 5 yards a carry over the last month or so," Jacobs said. "We can go out there and run, and it's up to us to execute."
3. Aaron Ross, CB, Giants
After missing the first nine games with a hamstring injury, Ross is expected to play today and he could vastly improve the Giants' secondary.
"This is really his first week of practicing every day," Sheridan said. "He seems to be fine physically. He isn't going to go in there and play 60 snaps, but he looks good out there and he is ready to go."
4. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
With Turner's status in doubt, the Falcons' running game could dip and force Ryan to carry the offense. Ryan has thrown 10 interceptions in his last five games, so the Falcons need him to play better. Yet, Ryan said he will not put extra pressure on himself.
"You can't look at it that way," Ryan said. "We have some capable backups, guys who can come in and make plays. Jason Snelling has done a great job for us all season. Jerious Norwood has been out for awhile, but if we can get him back on Sunday that would help out because he is always a threat. Certainly you miss Mike because he is a great player, but our offensive line has done a great job in the run game all year."
5. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants
The Giants' pass rush must put pressure on Ryan, and last week's bye gave Tuck time to treat his injured shoulder.
"It helped me a lot," Tuck said. "It allowed me to do the strengthening work that I needed to do. It's been an issue. Obviously, I haven't been 100 percent but I don't make that excuse.
"Nobody is 100 percent in this league right now."
The Giants learned Friday that middle linebacker Antonio Pierce would be out indefinitely with a neck injury. Falcons star running back Michael Turner (high ankle sprain) is not expected to play, either.
A loss could be devastating for the Giants, riding a four-game losing streak after a 5-0 start. Quarterback Eli Manning
says both the Giants and Falcons will play with a sense of desperation today."We are in similar situations," Manning said. "We know they will come ready to play. They have lost three of their last four, and so they are going to feel they have something to prove, just like us."
A look at five players who must step up:
1. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
These are the kind of games Falcons officials had in mind when they traded for Gonzalez. If Gonzalez can get open in the red zone and in third-down situations, it will go a long way toward helping QB Matt Ryan end his slump.
"(Gonzalez) is a tough matchup," Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said. "He is a big third-down guy for them. Almost everybody they play against forms some kind of double bracket on him. He still does a good job of shaking people off and getting to the first-down marker."
2. Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants
He does not have a 100-yard rushing game
this season. But as colder weather approaches, look for the Giants to rely more on their running game. The Falcons gave up 185 yards rushing to the Panthers last week, so Jacobs and running mate Ahmad Bradshaw could be primed for big days."We've been averaging close to 5 yards a carry over the last month or so," Jacobs said. "We can go out there and run, and it's up to us to execute."
3. Aaron Ross, CB, Giants
After missing the first nine games with a hamstring injury, Ross is expected to play today and he could vastly improve the Giants' secondary.
"This is really his first week of practicing every day," Sheridan said. "He seems to be fine physically. He isn't going to go in there and play 60 snaps, but he looks good out there and he is ready to go."
4. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
With Turner's status in doubt, the Falcons' running game could dip and force Ryan to carry the offense. Ryan has thrown 10 interceptions in his last five games, so the Falcons need him to play better. Yet, Ryan said he will not put extra pressure on himself.
"You can't look at it that way," Ryan said. "We have some capable backups, guys who can come in and make plays. Jason Snelling has done a great job for us all season. Jerious Norwood has been out for awhile, but if we can get him back on Sunday that would help out because he is always a threat. Certainly you miss Mike because he is a great player, but our offensive line has done a great job in the run game all year."
5. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants
The Giants' pass rush
must put pressure on Ryan, and last week's bye gave Tuck time to treat his injured shoulder."It helped me a lot," Tuck said. "It allowed me to do the strengthening work that I needed to do. It's been an issue. Obviously, I haven't been 100 percent but I don't make that excuse.
"Nobody is 100 percent in this league right now."
