Eli Manning takes too many chances throwing the ball where he shouldn’t and the results have not been good.  Manning has completed 217 of 371 passes (58.5%) for 2,376 yards with 16 TD passes and 15 interceptions (75.0 QB Rating) so far this season.  The big problem for the Giants is that they don’t have a backup to threaten Manning with.  All the Giants can hope for is that Manning starts to mature soon at QB because the team goes as he goes.

The Giants should be ashamed of themselves with the way they played last Sunday at home.  Eli Manning completed only 21 of 49 passes for 273 yards with 1 TD pass and 4 interceptions.  Three of the interceptions were returned for TDs by the Vikings.  Reuben Droghns carried most of the load in the running game for the Giants as he carried the ball 15 times for 46 yards (3.1 ypc) with a TD run.  Rookie Ahmad Bradshaw pitched in with 4 carries for 29 yards (7.3 ypc).  Plaxico Burress had a solid game to lead the way in the passing game with 7 catches for 93 yards (13.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Amani Toomer had a solid game with 4 catches for 83 yards (20.8 avg) and Jeremy Shockey caught 4 passes for 44 yards (11.0 avg) to help out in the passing game.  The Giants finished up with 75 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.9 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 49 passes for 234 yards.

The defense did not play as bad as the final score shows.  DT Fred Robbins (8 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and DE Osi Umenyiora (6 tackles, 2 sacks) both had good games.  The Vikings finished up with 127 yards rushing on 39 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 10 of 12 passes for 124 yards.

The Giants won this game by keeping the ball away from the Lions and playing good defense.  LB Antonio Pierce led the Giants in tackles with 10 in this game.  Safety James Butler had a big game as he was making plays.  He had 8 tackles, recovered a fumble and intercepted 1 pass.  Sam Madison also had a solid game with 7 tackles and a interception.  The Lions finished up with 25 yards rushing on 11 carries (2.3 ypc) and they also completed 28 of 43 passes for 351 yards.

Even though the Giants only put 16 points on the board they controlled the clock for 35:17 of this game and that was huge for them.  Eli Manning completed 28 of 39 passes for 283 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  Brandon Jacobs had a solid game with 11 carries for 54 yards (4.9 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 49 yards (12.3 avg) with a TD grab.  Plaxico Burress (4 rec, 47 yards), Sinorice Moss (4 rec, 46 yards) and Jeremy Shockey (5 rec, 41 yards) all pitched in.  The Giants finished up with 72 yards rushing on 27 carries (2,7 ypc) and they also completed 28 of 39 passes for 269 yards.

Something has to give in this game and it should be fascinating to watch.  The Lions are a sparkling 4-0 at Ford Field as they have outscored their opponents 124-67 at home so far this season.  But, the Giants hail from the NFC East and the Lions are 0-2 against teams from that division and they’ve been outscored 90-24 by teams that aren’t in the Giants class.

The Giants have a very physical and balanced offense and that could pose problems for the Lions defense which isn’t that good.  The Lions do have a good interior defense against the running game but the Giants will likely still pound Brandon Jacobs (545 yards, 5.3 ypc) at them to help open up the passing game.  Eli Manning has been so-so this season but if Jacobs gets it going on the ground Manning will kill the Lions with play action passes to Plaxico Burress (41 rec, 588 yards, 8 TDs), Jeremy Shockey (43 rec, 487 yards, 3 TDs) and Amani Toomer (33 rec, 392 yards, 2 TDs).  Manning will have to be careful with the ball however as the Lions already have 15 pickoffs this season.

The Lions must attempt to run the football in this game with Kevin Jones against a Giants defense that is allowing 4.1 ypc this season or else Jon Kitna will have a long, long day.  That’s because the Giants blitz early and often and the result has been 32 sacks this season.  The Lions have allowed an amazing 40 sacks this season already and they can’t afford to let Kitna get rattled into mistakes.  The Giants allow 200.2 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a rating of 84.0 against them so if Kitna has time to throw he will have success. 

PREDICITON:  NEW YORK GIANTS 31,  DETROIT LIONS 20

The New York Giants played tough against the Cowboys but it just wasn’t enough at the end.  Eli Manning completed 23 of 34 passes for 236 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions.  Brandon Jacobs had another solid game with 23 carries for 95 yards (4.1 ypc).  Jeremy Shockey also had an outstanding game with 12 catches for 129 yards (10.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  The Giants finished up with 106 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.9 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 34 passes for 194 yards.

Gibril Wilson led the defense with 14 tackles and a interception for the Giants.  The Cowboys finished up with 82 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 28 passes for 241 yards.