This week we look at the New York Giants another divisional game and the so called game of the week. Or is that just because the Pats aren't playing? Here is what the Giants are saying so far this week..
BIG BLUE: WITTEN WON’T BEAT US THIS TIME
November 8, 2007 -- Two months and a six-game winning streak later, Antonio Pierce still groans at the mention of Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
Asked to describe the Giants' defensive effort - if you can call it that - against Witten in a 45-35 loss in the season opener, Pierce responded with a sour face yesterday.
“It was like a bad dream," he said.
Pierce and the rest of the Giants defense expect a much more restful sleep Sunday night after facing Witten and the 7-1 Cowboys at Giants Stadium in a matchup of the NFC East's top two teams.
Along with several other Giants defenders, Pierce all but vowed that the three-time Pro Bowl tight end would not repeat his career-best performance that September night at Texas Stadium.
Witten hauled in six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown with five of the six catches resulting in a first down, but the statistics only tell part of the story. Witten was uncovered on virtually every route he ran.
Witten was so untouched that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could have thrown to him for big yardage any time he felt like it. Granted, the Giants had their hands full with Terrell Owens and the rest of Dallas' offense, but not enough to excuse Witten repeatedly running free over the deep middle.
“We didn't pay enough attention to one of their most valuable weapons," weak-side linebacker Kawika Mitchell said. “You just can't let a guy like that get open. We didn't get physical with him."
The Giants had no shortage of explanations for the Witten debacle.
Not only were they adjusting to a new defensive coordinator and new scheme, but converted defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka also was making his first NFL start at strong-side linebacker, the position responsible for the tight end in most defensive packages.
“A lot of it was zone drops that we didn't get deep enough on and he got behind us," cornerback R.W. McQuarters said. “He's going to get his catches, but what we can't allow is for him to get behind us like that."
The Giants also had minimal pressure on Romo, mustering one sack. That's where coach Tom Coughlin places most of the blame for Witten's big night.
“You definitely have to have some pressure on the quarterback," Coughlin said yesterday about Witten. “That is where it starts."
The Giants certainly have stepped it up in that category, heading into the rematch with 30 sacks and a No. 1 league ranking in sacks per pass play that has fueled their 6-2 turnaround.
Free safety Gibril Wilson said better pressure on Romo and more attention to detail, specifically, Witten, should produce much more acceptable results Sunday.
“We're going to know where No. 82 (Witten) is at all times," Wilson said. “We're going to have some people looking after him, I promise you that."
BURRESS LIGHTS UP PRACTICE
November 8, 2007 -- There was an unusual reaction yesterday out at practice as Plaxico Burress hit the field for the first time in seven weeks.
"It was so funny, the first ball I caught in practice all my teammates started clapping," Burress said. "I guess they got a big kick out of that."
It was a sight the Giants haven't seen since the second week of the season. Burress on Sept. 16 against the Packers aggravated a severely sprained right injury that first surfaced early in training camp.
Time off for the bye week resulted in a move forward for Burress, who has not missed a game this season.
Previously he was kept out of practice in order to reduce the swelling and soreness in his ankle. Coming off the break, he was able to take part in all the individual and team drills and worked his way into a good number of plays with the first-team offense.
"I was mixing it up, going in and out, running some of the plays I thought were important for me to be in; some of the plays we'll be running this week," said Burress, who has 37 catches for 564 yards and eight touchdowns.
"It feels about the same. It's getting a little stronger," he said. "It can be nothing but positive, the more reps I can go out and get it will be more beneficial to myself and Eli [Manning]."
JACOBS’ TASK: RUN ’EM OVER
November 8, 2007 -- THERE was a Bring on the Cowboys feel to the Giants yesterday on a day when Plaxico Burress and his barking ankle returned to practice on a limited basis.
“The first ball I caught in practice, all my teammates started clapping," Burress said, and smiled.
Bring on the Cowboys, indeed.
“I'm not really worrying about their players and what their players can do and what they can do," running back Brandon Jacobs said. “I'm only worrying about our team and what we're going to be able to do, 'cause no one stops us, we stop ourselves. As long as we don't do that, we got a pretty good chance of winning this game."
Bring on Brandon Jacobs.
Because if the Giants plan on beating the Cowboys and laying claim to Beast of the NFC East, they must not count on Eli Manning surviving a shootout with gunslinger Tony Romo.
They must give the damn ball to Jacobs, because it sure looks as if the beast is yet to come.
It is time for Jacobs, the NFC's Offensive Player of the Month, to be Mr. November.
Where once this was Tiki Barber's favorite time of year, it is on the 264-pound Jacobs to run the Giants over the Cowboys and the possibility of another second-half collapse.
This is the time for the real Giants - and the real Giant - to please stand up.
“Tiki's gone, and his name still lives here," Jacobs said, “but we're not here to replace him. We're here to do our thing. We're 6-2, that kind of talk should be gone."
It's gone because Jacobs led the NFL with 424 rushing yards in October and has three 100-yard games in his last four outings and the knee he sprained in the first half of the opener against the Cowboys is rested following the bye and no longer bothers him.
“I feel good; I'm back 100 percent," Jacobs said.
The Giants are fourth in the NFL in time of possession and the best way to stop Romo and Terrell Owens and Jason Witten and Marion Barber is to keep them off the field.
“I think our defense is playing good enough now, I don't think we're gonna have any problems," Jacobs said.
