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Three to Focus on: Giants @ Saints, Week 12
November 25th, 2011 | Author: Trey Cunningham

MVP vs. MVP

Both QBs enter this game with impressive stats and, more importantly, a title so few ever attain: Super Bowl MVP. Entering this game, Drew Brees is our second-rated passer at +53.5 with 3,334 yards and 23 TDs, while Eli Manning is our fourth-highest at +32.5 with 2,952 yards and 18 TDs. Both have had to deal with dropped passes (Brees with 21, Manning with 24) while the younger Manning has thrown fewer interceptions (nine) than Brees (11) and has rallied his team from fourth-quarter deficits or ties in five victories while Brees has twice (not including the Atlanta game that was affected in OT by a controversial 4-and-1 attempt). Despite some great clutch performances from Eli, he still has trouble holding onto the ball; he has fumbled six times this season and lost three of those, including last week as he was driving to try and tie the game up against the Eagles. Brees has not fumbled once this year, giving him a clear edge in this aspect of the game. Ball security will be big in this one.

Giants Rushing Attack vs. Saints Defense

The Giants’ running game has been an important part of their offense the last few years, but this season finds them more-than-occasionally struggling to move the chains on the ground; a foot injury to Ahmad Bradshaw (+11.3), sidelining him for three weeks now, hasn’t helped. Against a usually vulnerable Eagles’ run defense last week, the G-Men could mustered only a pathetic 29 yards on the ground between three running backs including Brandon Jacobs - who doesn’t like anything like the bulldozer he once was.

They will be looking to get their ground game back on track against a Saints’ defense that has perennially struggled against the run in recent years; this season being no different as they’ve given up a league-worst 5.2 yards-per-carry.

Saints WR Corps vs. Giants Secondary

The Saints have several receiving threats: rising star tight end Jimmy Graham (+13.7 receiving grade) who leads tight ends with 2.44 Yards per Route Run, and Marques Colston (+7.2) – who has dropped just one of 43 catchable balls that have come his way – lead the way with former Charger halfback Darren Sproles (+2.2) checking in as the most-targeted back in the league.

Pass coverage has been a mixed bag for the G-Men this season. While safety Kenny Phillips (+4.4 coverage grade) and cornerback Aaron Ross (+1.3) have fared well and rookie Prince Amukamara looked great in his debut last week (two passes given up on six targets with an INT), others including Corey Webster (-0.5), Deon Grant (-3.5) and Antrel Rolle (-7.4) have struggled. They will also hope to avoid getting Graham or Sproles matched up against their LBs, who have been below-average in their coverage duties. If their performance against Vince Young, who tore them up with a short passing attack, is any indication, they are in for a long night.

Entire article... https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...aints-week-12/

This game has me worried because the one match-up he doesn't mention is the Giant front four versus our O-line. If the Giants can get pressure on Brees while dropping 7 in coverage, it could be another off night for Brees and company. If we lose, I think this will be the main reason. Brees would have to have a Rams, Browns, Cardinals, Seahawks type game for us not to win and the Giants are built to give us that type of trouble.