FrontSeven

I wonder how big a deal it's going to be to have two starters on the OL that the Giants did not see in Week 17. We do tend to substitute some good guys but there's nothing like having your starters out there.

I expect this to bump the running game to a level that the Giants may not be able to handle that well. If anybody thinks this offense is unwilling to run the ball let me just say that this coach ain't Mike Martz.

I tend to think that Neal and Kaczur will add a significant bump to the right side, and that the Giants will see action there that might surprise them. I think the play book opens up a little there.

For one thing running the ball will immediately throw a wet blanket over that fine pass rush. I do expect the O and the D to roll out a lot more new stuff Sunday.

BTW, I believe that the return of Kyle Brady will also make a huge difference in the run game. The three guys returning is going to be a bigger factor in the run game than Bradshaw returning, IMO.

BelichickFan

It's a big deal, I think. Not just on the right side but on the left too - if the first game Maroney had several losses (or short/no gains) going to the left on plays made by NYG DL coming across from the DL left side (OL right side). I'm no OL expert but I'm guessing that those guys should have been taken care of better by our OL right side. Neal and Kaczur are far more mobile than Hochstein and O'Callaghan and should be able to get out to the backside of the DL a lot better.

I agree that we won't be scared to run - I think we're coming out throwing, though. The Giants' defense weakness is the secondary - I expect us to try to exploit that from the first play and only go away from it if we have protection problems.

ClevTrev

Good points and agree with the inclusion of K. Brady. He'll be able to move from end to end and is one large wall when it comes to moving bodies. His ability to help on the double team outside is going to be something the Giants did not experience last time.

The ability to consistently get 4-5 YPC would be huge if the Pats can establish that. Having a healthy O-line is going to be key. While I don't think they'll favor the run, the ability of the Pats to show the run via play action is going to make it difficult for the Giants.

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TedyB54

Personally, I don't think there's any concern at all with the Pat's offense. They put up a lot of points against the Giants last time, having Neal, Kazczur and Kyle Brady back will just be a bonus.

The area that could really use the most improvement this time around is their red zone D. 4-4 last time is really the story of that game and if they could have just held the Giants to 2 FGs on any of those drives it's a whole different ball game.

Hopefully we'll see more of the Defense stepping up like it has since the second half of the Jags game on.

BB4PRez

Hopefully the return of the 3 lineman will give the Pats better production in the red zone running game. The giants holding the Pats to field goals kept them in the first game.

Although, at least in the second half, I think the Pats made adjustments and Maroney ran for some good yards near the goal line. Brady chipping down on Osi will help.

fgssand

The return of those Neil / Kaczur and K. Brady is HUGE. Also, Watson was nursing a sore ankle that game. Furthermore, we were able to develop a third tight end due to the starting two being hurt, which helps depth for the game.

The ONLY chance NY has is to get to Brady and having these guy back and healthy really will make it difficult for them to succeed.

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RPMCanes

I don't think anyone has to worry about the defense in this game. I'm willing to bet that Junior, Brouhaha, and maybe Rodney are going to retire, and they are going to leave it ALL on the field.

Hammer12

I certainly think that since the Giants game the D has stepped up their red zone defense in a HUGE way against much better offenses than the Gs so hopefully they can keep that up. I could not believe how many times SD got into the red zone and they still held them to FGs. LDT out or not, it was still fantastic.

As much as Brady's numbers were good in the Giants game, before the fourth quarter, I thought Brady looked more rushed than I had seen him in a long time. I think that the returned starters to his OLine will allow him to look more like himself right off the bat. And this I think will help us to score more earlier (obviously), but even more than that I think it will mentally get to Eli. He is so young and seems like his confidence is so inextricably linked to his level of play. When he sees that his defense can't get to Brady and he has to play catch up, he is going to get freaked out and do what he does best...fumble and throw interceptions.

Add to this that with the renewed OLine the running game will be better blocked, and lawrence is hot right now anyway...Their pass protection won't be as effective and they are not going to know what hit them.

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Horace's Ivories

Looks like Spach has developed into a nice blocker..

Fencer

Have Neal back means screens and swing passes get more dangerous.

When he pulls or otherwise runs a distance to hit somebody is when he's an elite player, and in particular better than Hochstein/Yates. Otherwise his return is no biggie.