[jerseykingpin]

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."

[iceminers26]

great write up Jersey

big ? how Ryan will perform today, should be interesting

[jerseykingpin]

One of these struggling teams -- both are 5-4 after torrid starts -- is going to get off the mat and snap out of its losing ways. The Giants were 5-0 and believed to be among the NFL's best before they stopped playing defense and taking care of the ball during a four-game losing streak. The Falcons were 3-1 and riding high until they stopped pressuring the quarterback and Matt Ryan started firing interceptions en route to losing three of four games. Both teams badly need a win to get into position for at least a wild-card run.
Ryan already has thrown more interceptions (12) than he did in all of his rookie season, and he appears to be going through a sophomore slump. He also has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns on the road, where the Falcons are 0-4 this season. He does have big-play targets in wide receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, and he goes against a Giants defensive backfield that has allowed a ton of big plays. After four years with the Falcons, Giants linebacker Michael Boley faces his former team for the first time. Not exactly blessed with speed at linebacker, the Giants signed Boley to solve that problem, but he has missed five of the season's first nine games. The Giants haven't covered opposing tight ends well, and Boley will draw that assignment against Gonzalez, the venerable veteran in his first year with the Falcons. Gonzalez is having another productive season (44 receptions, 501 yards, 4 touchdowns) and is always a threat on third down, near the end zone and over the middle.
Falcons Keys For Success


1. Where's Matty Ice?: Some say Ryan has elected to have his rookie season in Year 2. He drew league-wide raves as he guided the Falcons to an 11-5 record and playoff berth in 2008. This year, he is clearly in a slump. Over the first four games, while the Falcons went 3-1, he completed 66.7 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Over the last five games, in which the Falcons went 2-3, he has completed just 54.9 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Falcons are looking for the Ryan of his rookie season to show up.
2. Defense needs to stop something: The Falcons are 28th in the NFL against the pass (allowing 240.7 yards per game) and 26th against the run (130.3). The last two teams they played, Carolina and Washington, had success moving the ball with short-drop passes like slants and quick-outs. The Falcons, who have issues at left cornerback, need to tighten their zone coverage and win more of the physical battles with receivers in press coverage. They did a good job against Carolina's rushing attack until Jonathan Stewart got loose late for a 45-yard touchdown run. 3. Find a rushing attack: Falcons running back Michael Turner was averaging 9.1 yards per carry over his last three games, and he surpassed 100 yards rushing in each of them. However, he's not likely to play against the Giants because of a high right ankle sprain. The Falcons are hoping Jerious Norwood can return from his right hip flexor injury. If Norwood is back, then he can combine with Jason Snelling to power the rushing attack. But Turner, who had 10 rushing touchdowns, will really be missed in the red zone.

Giants Keys For Success


1. No room to run: Turner's absence would leave an enormous hole in the Atlanta running game, which would have to rely on the far less dynamic Snelling and possibly Norwood. The Giants shut down LaDainian Tomlinson in their last game, but they have not been as dominant stopping the run during the rest of the season, allowing 4.5 yards per rushing attempt and 12 rushing touchdowns. The Giants will probably try to contain the Falcons' ground game without eight men in the box to keep the heat off their inconsistent secondary.
2. Cash in: The Giants are among the worst teams in the NFL in red zone offense and defense, failings that cannot continue if they are to make a serious playoff run. On offense, the Giants must pay more attention to their running game, which has produced only seven touchdowns -- and only two for bruising but underutilized running back Brandon Jacobs. The Falcons in their last three losses have allowed 37, 35 and 28 points, respectively, and there's no reason the Giants shouldn't try to pound away with their healthy trio of backs. 3. Get pressure: Left alone, the four-man defensive line has not produced the expected pressure up front, as ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck and tackle Fred Robbins have combined for only 9.5 sacks. The defensive scheme was set up for the line to dominate, but there has been far too much of a burden on the secondary. The return to health of tackle Chris Canty should help, although he's more of a run-stopper. Coordinator Bill Sheridan is not expected to blitz much more than he has, putting the onus mainly on Umenyiora and Tuck to pick up their performances and play like the Pro Bowl players they have been in the past.

The Bottom Line

Both teams are desperate to stop the bleeding and start winning again, but the Giants, coming off their bye week and riding a four-game skid, are at home and probably need the win more. The return to health of Boley, Canty and cornerback Aaron Ross should help fortify a defense that has disappointed. Plus, playing consecutive road games is a difficult assignment for the Falcons, who are 1-4 away from home this season. The loss of Turner would be a huge blow and would put too much of a burden on Ryan. Eli Manning played well in his last outing, a loss to the Chargers, and should be successful in this game as long as he limits turnovers.
Scoring prediction: Falcons 16 - Giants 24

[jerseykingpin]

More like the Giants D

[2daBank]

this is my fav pick of the 1s ive seen you on so far..my fav play 4sure..gl