falcon_ace Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 By Dan Graziano Lots Of Air Time?The Falcons are vulnerable in the secondary. Can Giants QB Eli Manning, who torched Dallas in Week17, take advantage? Quick Take » Three things to know about next Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons-New York Giants wild-card game:1. Another aerial assault. The Giants’ secondary has struggled throughout the second half of this season, and things don’t get any easier with the Falcons coming to town. Entering play Sunday, Atlanta ranked seventh in the league in pass yards per game and just 20th in rush yards per game. They like to throw the ball, and quarterback Matt Ryan has a variety of downfield options in wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones along with ageless tight end Tony Gonzalez. They run enough with Michael Turner to keep a defense honest, and they’re 22-3 over the past four seasons when Turner rushes for at least 100 yards. But the main problem for the Giants will be making sure to get everybody covered in the passing game.2. King of the road. Used to be, Ryan was at his best at home in the Georgia Dome. But this year, Ryan’s been a more effective passer on the road -- at least when throwing deep. Entering Sunday’s home finale, in which he threw two touchdowns on 6-for-9 passing before coming out of the blowout game, Ryan’s completion percentage on deep throws was 42.9 on the road compared to 36.5 at home. And his Total QBR on deep throws on the road was 94.8 versus 54.0 at home. ESPN Stats & Information informs us that that’s the largest disparity in the league in that category. Expect Ryan and the Falcons to take some shots downfield and not to be intimidated by MetLife Stadium.3. Head-to-head history. The Giants are 10-10 all-time against the Falcons and have won three in a row against them, but they haven’t seen them since Nov. 22, 2009, when the two teams hooked up in a wild game at the old Giants Stadium. New York coughed up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter but ended up winning in overtime. Eli Manning had 384 yards and three touchdowns in that game. Atlanta has overhauled its past defense over the past couple of years, but they’ve been banged-up in the secondary and can be thrown on, as the Saints proved last Monday Night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon_ace Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Media will crown Giants before Falcons land in NYHave to avoid this @ any cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon_ace Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Former Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis coaches the Atlanta defensive backs.The Giants and Falcons have four common opponents this season (Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks). Atlanta is 2-3 in those games (they lost twice to the Saints), and the Giants are 1-4 (split games against the Eagles). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcon_ace Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Atlanta at N.Y. GiantsSunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. - TV: FOX*TV announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver*Matchup to watch - Falcons LT Will Svitek vs. Giants DEs Jason Pierre-Paul/Osi Umenyiora:Svitek has generally been very strong since taking the starting blind-side job from Sam Baker, but he draws a tough assignment Sunday. Pierre-Paul is the starter and plays with a relentless motor. He often kicks inside on obvious passing downs to get Umenyiora in the lineup. Umenyiora had a pair of sacks in his first game back from an ankle injury last week.*Player spotlight - Falcons OLB Spencer Adkins: The 2009 sixth-round pick was thrust into the starting lineup last week following Mike Peterson's torn triceps. He'll play a critical role in run defense while also keeping his special teams duties.*Fast facts: Manning set an NFL single-season record with 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes during the regular season. … The teams have split 20 previous meetings, but this will be the first in the playoffs.WHO WILL WIN AND WHYThe Giants had to win consecutive games to reach the playoffs and rose to the challenge. Throw in home-field advantage, a fierce pass rush and the fact Falcons QB Matt Ryan has yet to step up big in the postseason and it equals a narrow Giants victory.*Our pick: Giants 31-27This is by Yahoo Sports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niels petersen Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 I think the Giants' gameplan will be the exact same as the one they had vs. the Cowboys.. Spread the defense out, and se if they can stop Nicks/Cruz. Falcons have the same problems with the secondary, so getting a couple of quick scores on explosive pass plays would get the Giants the lead, and would put us in more passing situations where their DL can really get after Ryan..Of course - that is not what we want to happen. We need to run the ball consistently and effectively, and not get into 3rd and long situations.. We also need to end our long drives with TDs in the red zone, that is extremely important IMO.I was wondering if we should look to the game tape of NYGs two games vs. the Redskins, cause they seem to have the blueprint on how to beat NYG this season.. I believe that it was by running the football all game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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