Giants defense is overrated-let up 351 points

[NEfan32]

I was looking at the standings, and saw that the Giants have scored 373 points, which is slightly above average. They have decent offense, but the defense let up 351 points.

Teams who have let up less include.

New England
Pittsburgh
Indy
Jax
Tennessee
San Diego
Kansas City
Dallas
Washington
Philly
Green Bay
Minnesota
Chicago
Tampa Bay
Carolina
St. Louis

and then teams within 20 points

Buffalo
Jets
San Fran

The Giants are in the bottom defense wise. Now they have good pressure with the front 4, but if you can keep them away from TB, you will have a field day.

 

[scout]

If for some reason Brady is off (foot/shoulder), I think the Pats could line up with the three tight ends and run it right down NY's throat. A couple of screens to Faulk, and zings to the outside receivers off the line. Tho, I would rather see a couple of bombs to Moss to complete the season.

 

[DonBlackmon55]

I see us hanging 40-44 on their D. heck we hung 38 on them in wk 17 w/o even a running game, 2 starting OL out, Kyle Brady Out, and two key special teamers out, and all whe while playing a vanilla D.

I can see a 42-17 blowout. Pats will not be making the same mistakes as Cow Patty or FudePackers Offense. Cowpatties kept running, and Fudepackers kept passing.

All the Giants have is a fiere DL push. Neutralize the rush be delayed draws, swing passes, screens. They'll be gassed in the heat by 4Q. Pats D plays "smart"...plays "softer" in first half, and then 2nd half they bring the exotic looks to clamp down

 

[PromisedLand]

I see us hanging 40-44 on their D. heck we hung 38 on them in wk 17 w/o even a running game, 2 starting OL out, Kyle Brady Out, and two key special teamers out, and all whe while playing a vanilla D.

True. And on the road. Also, it was quite clear to me that the Giants were focusing their defense on Randy Moss and that Brady was trying to get the ball to him anyway, as he is such a selfless guy that he wouldn't think of breaking the TD pass record without getting Randy the TD reception record at the same time.

Of course, you won't hear any of that mentioned in the media frenzy over the next two weeks. What you will hear about 10,000 times that the Patriots only beat the Giants by 3 points and that they trailed by 12 in the 4th quarter.

 

[patsox23]

The Giants have two stupendous pass-rushers in Strahan and Osi, and the rest of their D is not all that - am I wrong? Giants fans, please correct me if I am. We know their secondary is so-so, and their LB corps doesn't really scare me much, either. What am I missing?

 

[Watson's IQ]

I'm not sure this is the best way to look at the Giants D. The Giants gave up more than 24 points to only 4 teams this year: Dallas (twice), Green Bay, Minnesota, and New England. That includes the playoffs. Other than that, their defense has been much more staunch as the year has gone along.

I'm not saying they will be able to hang with the Pats' offense. After all, they gave up 38 to us a month ago. I think they are particularly weak in the secondary (partially offset by having probably the best D-line in the game), and that there are plenty of mismatches the Pats can exploit.

That said, looking at total points allowed over a whole season is about as pointless a look as you can get at the Giants defense.

 

[TX_Patriot]

Here's a couple of things I noticed over the last few games. The Giants played TB, Dal, and GB.

TB had a pretty lack luster offense all season and didn't play their starters for the last 2 weeks of the season. They looked rusty and when they were pressed into trying to score with the Giants they could keep up.

Dallas had scored 1 offensive TD in the last 3 weeks of the season and was still a Creighton drop from winning that game. Plus TO was no where near 100%.

GB was more affected by the cold than the Giants and had a number of drops that could have turned that game.

Also, let's look at the Giant's O. I think we can all agree that their best performance in the last month was against NE. In the Dallas game they had like 3 or 4 3 and outs in the second half when they could have iced the game.

Against GB, their only TD in the second half was aided by 4 or 5 penalties, one of which was a 15 yard roughing the passer on a 3rd and long. The missed field goals at the end of the game were set up by bad punts/decent returns (almost fumble away mind you). GB's D basically stopped the Giants the entire second half.

I give the Giant's credit for perseverance, but they are lucky to be here and have no idea the pressure of a SB.

 

[Ootball]

The Giants only hope is ball control, but it is something that they are capable of. They had 40+ minutes to Green Bay's 20+ on Sunday.

That's their formula for winning the Superbowl. New England probably won't let that happen, but if the Giants can put together 2-3 long scoring drives, it changes the equation for their D.

 

[TX_Patriot]

The #1 stat that explains this Giants turn-around best. The Giants were -9 in the regular season in turnover +/-, in the 3 playoff games, they're +5. We have to force Eli into mistake and Brady cannot be pressured into mistakes. The Breaded Brothers need to keep him clean.

 

[onegameatatime]

I was looking at the standings, and saw that the Giants have scored 373 points, which is slightly above average. They have decent offense, but the defense let up 351 points.

Teams who have let up less include.

New England
Pittsburgh
Indy
Jax
Tennessee
San Diego
Kansas City
Dallas
Washington
Philly
Green Bay
Minnesota
Chicago
Tampa Bay
Carolina
St. Louis

and then teams within 20 points

Buffalo
Jets
San Fran

The Giants are in the bottom defense wise. Now they have good pressure with the front 4, but if you can keep them away from TB, you will have a field day.

Yes, but I believe 90 of those points were in the first two games of the season. 260 in the 14 games since is not bad.

They have 1 turnover in the playoffs.

I think the Pats win and probably easily, but the Giants seem to be very streaky, and they are hot now.

 

[eom]

The Breaded Brothers need to keep him clean.

uh...I think the breaded brothers are mascots for kfc.

 

[TX_Patriot]

uh...I think the breaded brothers are mascots for kfc.

bearded, my bad. LOL

 

[PonyExpress]

The Packers and Cowboys were 2 elite offensive teams, but scored a total of only 37 points at home, combined, vs the G-men. The Pats are not playing the Giants of week 1 or week 2, or even week 17. The current edition of the Giant D is much improved and a very formidable squad. To underestimate them would be folly.

 

[stonel86]

Heres the thing about our defense. Yes I am a Giants fan. We started out the season by letting up (I dont remember exactly) nearly 80 points and came back and our defense started getting it together. Our secondary is way underrated by everyone in the league, they keep down talking it but we keep proving them wrong. The thing is injuries have hit the secondary hard with Madison, Dockery, and Gibril being injured recently. All 3 should be back and ready to go for the superbowl, Dockery is a huge missing piece from week 17 that could help cover welker. Our defensive line in my opinion could be considered overrated...I mean yes they are great but our middle is not as strong as we would hope unless tuck is in there which is the case most of the time. Our LB's are so so Pierce did excellent last week.

The biggest reason our defense has thrived in these playoffs is Spags ability to make adjustments. He has done it all season long and he has do it for one more game and hopefully he stays with this team because he is a huge asset.

 

[eom]

The Packers and Cowboys were 2 elite offensive teams, but scored a total of only 37 points at home, combined, vs the G-men. The Pats are not playing the Giants of week 1 or week 2, or even week 17. The current edition of the Giant D is much improved and a very formidable squad. To underestimate them would be folly.

didn't we just go through this routine w/san diego......?

 

[BelichickFan]

The Giants have a good defense, I'm not going to try to argue differently. However as long as Brady is OK and playing at his normal level, it makes little difference IMO. The only thing which I believe can stop the Patriots from scoring 31 points is really bad weather or turnovers. We'll have good weather. That leaves turnovers - and while SD had 30 INT in the regular season, the Giants are a very average 15 (and a so-so 10 fumble recoveries). I think sometimes things can be simple and if we don't turn the ball over we'll score in the high 20s to mid 30s - I don't see us allowing that barring kickoff returns like in the last NYG game.

 

[PonyExpress]

didn't we just go through this routine w/san diego......?

What do you mean?

 

[eom]

What do you mean?

The Pats are not playing the Chargers of week 2. The current edition of the Chargers team is much improved and a very formidable squad. To underestimate them would be folly.

blah.....blahblah...blahblah.......

 

[PonyExpress]

Heres the thing about our defense. Yes I am a Giants fan. We started out the season by letting up (I dont remember exactly) nearly 80 points and came back and our defense started getting it together. Our secondary is way underrated by everyone in the league, they keep down talking it but we keep proving them wrong. The thing is injuries have hit the secondary hard with Madison, Dockery, and Gibril being injured recently. All 3 should be back and ready to go for the superbowl, Dockery is a huge missing piece from week 17 that could help cover welker. Our defensive line in my opinion could be considered overrated...I mean yes they are great but our middle is not as strong as we would hope unless tuck is in there which is the case most of the time. Our LB's are so so Pierce did excellent last week.

The biggest reason our defense has thrived in these playoffs is Spags ability to make adjustments. He has done it all season long and he has do it for one more game and hopefully he stays with this team because he is a huge asset.

What impresses me about the Giant defense: they are physical and relentless. They play with tremendous heart, exemplified by that amazing tackle by A. Pierce, in the GB game. The D-line is as good and as deep as any in the league. It is the best 4-3 D-line in the NFL. If Kiwanuka were healthy, it would be sick. The players have totally bought into the scheme. There are still holes in the secondary, but instead of sulking after a bad play, the Giants put it aside and keep going. Webster is back to playing with confidence like in his LSU days. Instead of getting berated by T. Lewis after a mistake, Spagnuolo seems to be reinforcing his confidence, and Corey is letting his natural ability is take over. People forget that he was one of the best ballhawks in the last decade of college football, but lost his confidence his senior year with injuries. He never really recovered, until now. The G-men are playing inspired football; they seem to relish the hitting and the fighting. They have taken on the disciplined vicious personality of Coughlin, combined with the smarts of Spagnuolo. A team that enjoys physical contact like the Giants is a team to be feared.

One thing I will say is that vs. the Pats the Giants would be better off with G. Wilkinson in the game instead of K. Mitchell. Wilkinson is better in pass coverage, and that's what the Giants will need. He is almost a free safety out there, 6'3'' with long arms, and his presence will make the middle windows that much tighter for Brady's passes.

 

[TX_Patriot]

The Packers and Cowboys were 2 elite offensive teams, but scored a total of only 37 points at home, combined, vs the G-men. The Pats are not playing the Giants of week 1 or week 2, or even week 17. The current edition of the Giant D is much improved and a very formidable squad. To underestimate them would be folly.

Let's play your game.

TB lost 3 of 4 coming into the playoffs. Only win, against the Falcons.

Dallas averaged 33 pts/game over the first 12 games...care to guess what they averaged in December? 15 pts/game. Tony Romo threw 4 tds and 5 ints in December.

GB looked good down the stretch averaging close to 30 pts/game, albeit they played the Raiders, Rams, Bears, and Lions. Powerhouses, all of them. They lost to the Bears, hmm, cold and windy in that game too.

I have no retort for the Seahawks, GB owns them in the playoffs at Lambeau. Good win by them.

Look, I'm not saying the Giant's D is bad, but I'm also not saying that they are world beaters. They went out and won those games and deserve to be in the SB. I just think that they really don't match up well against the Pats, especially when weather will be a non-factor.