NYG vs BAL Preview

This is it.

Do or die. Win two and we are in. Lose even one, and you can pretty much kiss the playoffs good bye. It's just so unfortunate that this team has to put us through the heart and headaches down the final stretch of the season. Just win earlier on, don't let the last 2 regular season games be elimination games. Not worth the stress, I promise.

To the game, for all of those freaking out about Ray Lewis coming back, he's not. Probably wont be for the regular season. Good call there.

I will tell you this much though, if the D-Line doesn't get pressure and lets Flacco have time, we will lose. I don't care about Ray Rice from New Rock. Until he proves otherwise, Justin Tuck has lost all passion for the game. I mentioned in the recap of the Atlanta game about Osi looking like the only one who tries, look at this stat: Tuck has just three sacks and 25 quarterback pressures this season. For comparison, Osi Umenyiora has six sacks and 33 pressures in nearly 100 fewer snaps. Antonio Pierce has even come out and questioned Tuck's heart, and how much he wants to win. I'm telling you, he may be fine with just two rings. He may not even play with a bummed shoulder. Adrian "Yosi" Tracy will step in if Tuck cannot go. Had a great preseason. Will be interesting to see what he can do.

Harbaugh stated earlier this week that they don't fear the Giants pass rush, huge slap in the face to this squad.

Whats wrong with JPP?  15.5 sacks total this year for the 3 DEs. Last year at this point JPP had 13.5 on his own. Again, I question the heart of this line. We all know they have the skill, its the desire that is in question. 

But to be honest, the Giants can't let Ray Rice do what Turner did. You stop the run, you eliminate the threat of a play action. DLine can get their jump off the ball and go straight for the QB. Ray Rice is a beast, there is no doubting that. Giants are giving up 123.7 per game on the ground this season. Canty will need to step up. Blackburn will have to fill the gap and tackle, because apparently being slow isn't his only problem, he now misses tackles. Linebackers will have to be aware of Rice's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. We have the speed out there with Rivers and Jacquain. Spy him with Hill or Rolle.

Torrey Smith missed some practice this week with a concussion. Not even sure if he is going to play, questionable to be exact. It would be huge if he was not on the field. Taking him away as the deep threat is fine with me. 

Prince is coming back, along with Kenny. Huge boosts to the secondary. God it was horrible to watch this secondary try to function with the personnel that was out there.

Bradshaw is going to play, how much is to be determined. Giants will probably just go with the hot hand throughout the game. Wilson will add some speed against a defense with an ailing Suggs and no Ray Lewis.

Eli needs to come out on fire. No first pass picks. Ed Reed is going to be lurking in that secondary all game, maybe shoot in for a few blitzes. He is the scariest on the defense. If Eli and the receivers are not on the same page all game, Reed will have at least one INT.

Bennett needs more work. The more targets he gets, the more respect the defense has for him, less doubling Cruz. Nicks is still not 100% and won't be. Deep balls are pretty much worthless until he is good again, timing is just off.

There is no one on this Ravens team that really scares me. I think we match up well, and players know what time it is. I hope Wilson doesn't get shut down on kick returns again, last week he didn't get one ball worth returning. Eli with a bounce back game, 300 and 3. DLine with 4 sacks. Giants are one win away from the playoffs by the time Sunday Night football starts.