In the biggest game of the year to date, Eli Manning and the New York Giants (8-3) travel to Heinz Field to take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5).
The question of whether or not the New York Giants are contenders or pretenders is being thrown around like meatballs in a food fight.The winning, especially given how mediocre Big Blue has been since their last Super Bowl win, has been such a relief for first-year coach Ben McAdoo.
The 8-3 Giants have put themselves in a tremendous position in the playoff picture while Dallas is the only NFC team with a better record than them. Plus, they are the only team to put a number in the loss column for those same all-powerful Cowboys — thanks to their defense that has surrendered the fourth-fewest points in the conference.
However, recognize the last few weeks (against the Bengals, Bears, and Browns) to be nothing more than quizzes. Here come the final exams.
During their longest winning streak since 2011, New York’s opponents — who they played toe-to-toe with — have a consolidated record of 14-40, their next five are 35-19-1.
Instead of being looked at as a team with a clear path to the postseason, they are nothing more than a Super Bowl defense that has lengthened their winning streak thanks to weak opposition.
Not to mention the fact that the Giants’ offense is inconsistent and MaCadoo is still, at eight wins with one against Dallas, missing that signature win.
What better way to prove your worth than to overcome the antagonistic atmosphere of Heinz Filed against a dangerous Steelers squad who need the game just as much?
Here’s the complete preview including everything you need to know before you tune into the big game tomorrow.
Nov 6, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants guard Justin Pugh (67) is helped off the field after spraining a knee during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Injury News
Hoping he would participate in game action for the first time since facing the Eagles back in Week 9, Justin Pugh has been ruled out for the fourth straight week due to a sprained MCL.
Since Pugh participated in practice every day this past week, one could suspect a better chance of an active status come the Giants’ Week 14 date with the NFC-leading Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
Nat Berhe (concussion), linebacker Mark Herzlich (concussion) defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa (knee) have also been ruled out this week. Center Brett Jones (calf) and tackle Marshall Newhouse (knee) were limited in practice but ended the week with a questionable status.
NEXT: Matchups to Watch
Matchups To Watch
Eli Manning vs Ben Roethlisberger
This showdown between two Super Bowl MVP’s — for possibly the last time — both taken in the same NFL Draft should be the most intriguing storyline of Week 13.
At age 34 and 35, respectively, both gunslingers need to take this game to help them in terms of a playoff appearance, positioning and perhaps their final crack at a Lombardi Trophy.
No, a matchup between Eli Manning and Ben Rothlisberger will never match the volume of the epic Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning battles but Heinz Field will feature a showdown between arguably two of the greatest to ever take the field.
Roethlisberger owns a 2-1 edge over Eli, who leads him in touchdown passes 314 (seventh all-time) to 295 (tenth all-time), and in passing yards 47,089 (eighth all-time) to 45,740 (eleventh all-time), as pointed out by my colleague Jason Leach in his column this week.
Janoris Jenkins vs Antonio Brown
While Eli and Big Ben may take center stage as the main event, watching one of the better cornerbacks in the league in Janoris Jenkins attempt to slow down perhaps the best receiver in the NFL in Antonio Brown is a close second.
Brown, who leads the league with 82 receptions and tied for the league lead in touchdowns (10) with Mike Evans, is coming off a terrific Thanksgiving night against the Colts in which he, indeed, feasted.
Three of his five total receptions were caught for touchdowns as he proved that no wideout could take over the game quite like Antonio Brown can. He’s also facing a Giants team that allows 264.7 yards through the air per game, which ranks 24th in the league.
Then, there’s the corner who, according to Pro Football Focus, has surrendered just two receptions in each of the Giants’ past two games while also being rated as the 12th-ranked corner.
Also according to PFF, Jenkins leads the NFL in completion percentage on passes targeted at a corner.
If he could do his thing against Brown, it should be a long day for the Steel Curtain, especially with the now-dynamic pass rush led by Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon.
Jason Pierre-Paul vs Marcus Gilbert
Can you find me a defensive end in the NFL that’s hotter than JPP is right now? If you think you have, you’re probably wrong.
With 5.5 sacks, nine tackles, and two forced fumbles over the last two weeks featuring one of those fumbles returned 43 yards for a touchdown against Cleveland, he’ll have his work cut out for him as he gets set to square off against Marcus Gilbert.
According to PFF, Gilbert is the 14th-best offensive tackle in the game while also earning the nod as the 11th-best pass blocker.
This matchup is truly a strength vs strength, as JPP has done his thing while Gilbert has had the best pass-blocking efficiency rating among right tackles in the league. Don’t take your eyes off these two come Sunday.
NEXT: X-Factors
X-Factor: Rashad Jennings
On a weekly basis, we ask: where’s the running game? Fair question, but when it shows up the New York Football Giants turn into an overwhelming threat.
Along with them being 8-0 when Rashad Jennings gets a rushing attempt, the 31-year old running back is averaging 75.5 yards per game when he receives 15 or more touches while averaging just 23 YPG when getting less than 15.
Also in games in which he rushes for that same threshold, he’s averaging 4.37 yards per carry compared to 1.89 when he gets less than 15 touches.
While there have been some flashes of consistency throughout the year, it’s essential that, in a high scoring event that’s expected this week, the running game opens up the passing game.
NEXT: Keys to a Giants win
Keys To Big Blue Win:
Win The Red Zone Battle:
When both teams take the field on Sunday afternoon, you’re going to see two of the best red zone offensively and defensive teams.
Pittsburgh leads the NFL in red zone defense by allowing touchdowns on just 41.7 percent of drives inside the 20 while finding the end zone 63.3 percent of the time (seventh in NFL) on the other side of the ball.
The Giants, on the other hand, don’t slack as they sit third in defensive touchdown efficiency and score touchdowns on 60.7 percent of drives that make their way into the red zone.
This is just another sense of strength vs strength in this game and whichever team exploits the other in this category will increase the likelihood of triumph.
Landon Collins Bounce Back:
On Thursday, Landon Collins earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for his incredible 30 tackles, three interceptions and a sack in New York’s four November wins.
He’s arguably the biggest key to the Giants’ defensive resurgence from a historically faulty year in 2015 but missed four tackles in Sunday’s win against the 30th ranked Browns’ offense.
Hopefully, for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, this is only showing that Collins is indeed human and he’ll defend his player of the month award against the 12th ranked Steelers offense.
Judging by the fact that he leads NFL safeties with 87 tackles and five interceptions and is tied for first with three sacks, he’ll be just fine.
Watch OBJ Dance:
Somehow, I haven’t mentioned the Giants biggest playmaker, Odell Beckham Jr., until now.
But it’s really not that complicated anymore. New York owns a 4-1 record this season when their top wideout scores, have seen him score seven touchdowns since October 18 (6-0, averaging 23 PTS) and are an unstoppable force once Odell gets it going.
Restrain Le’Veon Bell:
Doing this has been a hurdle for every team ever since Le’Veon Bell broke into the league and that’s not changing here — as he’s red-hot heading into Week 13.
Against the Browns and Colts over the last two games, Bell has totaled 266 yards on 51 carries (5.22 YPC) with two touchdowns and even 77 yards on 12 receptions.
Those two teams that sit in the bottom third of the league in run defense, though. Light years behind where the Giants are at.
Their unit ranks fifth in the NFL by allowing 89 yards per game while not allowing a single back to total a 100-yard game. The longest carry from any rusher against Big Blue was 33 yards, which is also the fifth-best in the league.
If they want to leave Pittsburgh with their ninth win joining them, the Giants’ must continue what has been their biggest strong suit all year: eliminate the run.
NEXT: Game details, prediction
Game Details:
- New York Giants (8-3)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
- Sunday, 4:25 p.m. on FOX
- Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
- Odds: Pittsburgh (-6 )
Prediction: Giants 24, Steelers 32
These two squads match up very well together, yet are nestled in two entirely different boats.
The Giants have been hot lately and the Steelers have grappled with injuries that have resulted in some struggles as the season reaches the critical point of December.
It’s ultimately going to come down to a shootout between Eli and Odell vs Big Ben and Antonio Brown. Should be relatively equal, except the latter duo have a wild card in Le’Veon Bell, who will make the difference in the friendly confines of Heinz Field.
Bold Predictions:
- Bell rushes for 166 yards on 27 carries and scores the game-winning touchdown, on a reception.
- Paul Perkins scores his first career touchdown.
- Big Ben explodes for four touchdown passes.