Patriots – Giants, Who has the Razor’s Edge? Key Matchups
(PHOTO: David Butler II - USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Commentary
(PHOTO: David Butler II - USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: David Butler II - USA TODAY Sports) Giants RBs vs NE Front Seven – Razor’s Edge New England
The G-Men use a running back by committee with Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Orleans Darkwa and former Patriot Shane Vereen. The Giants haven’t been very effective running the ball this season averaging only 96.7 yards per game.
The Patriot front seven has really turned it up a notch with their run defense the past month. They’ve leapt to the 7th best run defense, allowing only 89 yards per game. Alan Branch is playing his best football since coming to New England and he, rookie Malcom Brown, Dominique Easley and Sealver Siliga have a nice rotation going inside.
New England should be able to bottle up the Giants running game as the front four can slow things up at the point of attack and LBs Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins can jump up and make some plays.
Giants WRs vs NE Secondary- Razor’s Edge New York
This week’s game will be the stiffest test that the Patriots have faced thru the air since opening night, perhaps this season. Eli Manning is having a very solid season and has Odell Beckham Jr. as his favorite target. The 2nd year WR is already one of the better receivers in football and will be the main focus of the Patriots defense. Rueben Randle is still bothered by a sore hamstring that is limiting his ability to go deep.
The Patriots will have to bring pressure on Manning Sunday and they’ll rely on DEs Chandler Jones who leads the league with 9.5 sacks, Rob Ninkovich and hopefully Jabaal Sheard who’s missed the past several games but also has 4.0 sacks. CBs Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler and slot corner Justin Coleman will have their hands full with the Giants receivers. Safeties Devin McCourty will have to provide over the top help with Beckham along with Duron Harmon. Pat Chung will play closer to the box and help underneath.
Look for Manning to use Dwayne Harris and Shane Vereen out of the backfield to his advantage on Sunday. No one knows the NE defense better than Vereen and he’s always been a handful for linebackers. Jamie Collins, if he’s healthy this week, will have the task of hanging with his former teammate.
Special Teams- Razor’s Edge New York
The Patriots have two very reliable, steady kickers in punter Ryan Allen and K Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski is 19 of 19 on field goals in 2015 which includes three from 50 yards or more. He’s putting nearly 75 percent of his kickoffs out of the end zone. The coverage units have been solid although the return game hasn’t been as productive lately.
The Giants kicker Josh Brown has made 23 straight field goals heading back to last season and P Brad Wing is averaging 45.2 yards per punt. The Giants coverage units have been solid and returner Dwayne Harris leads the league with a 33.0 yards per kickoff return, including a 100 yarder against his former team in Dallas. The Giants have also blocked a punt this season.This is one of the few times this season that New England doesn’t have an advantage in STs.
Next up… a prediction on who wins and why:
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