Of course if former Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning continues his good start they might not even need to worry about those technicalities come January. “What I have seen from them this year is a very good quarterback who runs the huddle and the line of scrimmage very well,” said an understated Cardinals head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, according the Giants’ website regarding the NFC’s reigning Offensive Player of the Week.
Meanwhile Whisenhunt’s own signal-caller Kevin Kolb has been solid so far in adjusting to his new team with an above-average quarterback rating of 93.7, though star receiver Larry Fitzgerald made it sound like they have plenty of room for improvement, which is not surprising given their sub-par record against an underwhelming schedule thus far (Carolina, at Washington, and at Seattle). Said the All-Pro wideout according to the same site, “There are drives that we have put together throughout the season that really looked good and I try to build on those positives and try not to dwell on the things that haven’t gone our way.”
What hasn’t gone their way thus far are close games as their pair of losses were by a combined four points, including a 22-21 defeat to Washington, a team that beat the Giants by two touchdowns in week one.
But Tom Coughlin’s bunch has held it together since that time despite several injuries and would appear on paper to be getting stronger with the returns of defensive end Osi Umenyiora and wideout Mario Manningham to the practice field.
Umenyiora’s return seems even more critical considering fellow defensive end Justin Tuck’s questionable status for Sunday’s contest. Meanwhile Victor Cruz’s emergence (110 receiving yards, two scores last week) during Manningham’s absence is turning the concussion into a blessing in disguise as the Giants were clearly short on reliable-depth in the wide receiver department following Hick’s injury and Steve Smith’s sudden defection to the Eagles. “They are doing a great job and I have great confidence in these guys,” said Manning according to the Giants’ website about his emerging Manningham-Nicks-Cruz receiver trio.
While opponents have had success moving the ball this year on Arizona’s defense (currently 27th in allowing 397.7 yards per game) it quickly tightens up once opponents reach the red zone resulting in a very respectable 18.7 points per game allowed (eighth in the NFL). How long that holds up or not is anyone’s guess as red-zone stats are fickle.
In any case, though a win in the desert this time may not mean another title for New York, the resulting 3-1 record would be a good start.
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