The Ravens are on a roll as they head into New York for an important game against the Giants. The Ravens have won their last four games, including three on the road, as they face the team with the NFC's best record.
For the Giants, the game could all but secure their playoff spot in the NFC East. For the Ravens, the game will determine whether their playoff hopes deserve to stay alive.
Both teams bring strong defenses and young quarterbacks into the game. Here are two key matchups that may just decide the outcome on Sunday.
Giants Offense vs. Ravens Defense: QB Eli Manning vs. Ravens LBs
Quarterbacks against linebackers sounds like an odd matchup. It is. But read on to find out why this matchup might just be so important to the Ravens' defensive effort against the Giants.
Entering this week, the Giants have the league's best rushing attack. They average 169 yards per game on the ground, 10 more per game than the second-ranked Atlanta Falcons.
They use Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward to bulldoze over their opponents. And the constant threat of the run is what gives Eli Manning and his receiving crew room to work.
Luckily for the Ravens, they bring in the games best rushing defense, allowing just 64 yards per game on the ground. But the unstoppable force against the immovable object cliché is not the story in this game. In fact, I think the Ravens will be able to lock-up Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward pretty handily.
The story is what happens after
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about 1 month ago
Nice read. I think you're looking into the Giants linebacker thing too much though. Clark has been rock solid this year, and Antonio Pierce is a top five LB in the NFL (not everyone can be Ray Lewis).
Chase Blackburn started on Sunday night, and only saw the field for 12 plays. The Giants typically run a nickel defense, so the third LB usually doesn't see the field.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks much for the feedback! It should be a great game Sunday - though a nerve-racking one as well, I'm sure.
I don't know that I would give Pierce credit as Top 5 in the league, but he is certainly solid. But again, I don't think he'll change the game with sacks or interceptions. He'll control the game with his position - much like Ray Lewis. So if the Ravens can mess with that, they are better off.
about 1 month ago
Nice write-up on the game. I do think the Ravens will be able to contain the Giants' running game, but it might not be as easy as you think. It's as good of a running game as the Ravens have faced in several years. I'm taking a bus trip up to the game, so I'm looking forward to having a first-hand account of the game.
from about 1 month ago
hope you enjoy the game and my fellow Big Blue faithful won't be too hard on you but I do agree that the Giants can just do a lot while running the ball because of the 3 guys they have running the ball
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