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I loved watching the Giants sneak up on the Cowboys, Packers and Patriots last season but it won’t likely happen in 2008. Every team is going to fire their best shot against the defending Super Bowl Champions. It doesn’t help matters that Osi Umenyiora is out for the season and Michael Strahan is retired. I would make a small play on the under if I had a gun to my head.
This will be a very interesting football game tonight in New Jersey. The Redskins split with the Giants last season with each team winning on the road. The Redskins spanked the Giants 22-10 in New Jersey last season and they will be looking to duplicate that feat. To make that happen the Redskins must run the football well with Clinton Portis against DTs Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins and linebacker Antonio Pierce. The Redskins will likely keep the passing game short using TE Chris Cooley often against safeties James Butler and Michael Johnson. If the Giants’ defense creeps up too far then look for the Redskins to go up top to Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El.
The Giants are looking to defend there Super Bowl Championship of last season but they will do it without a bunch of key defensive players who have either left, retired or are injured. With that in mind look for the Giants to try to pound the football to set up the play action pass downfield. Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward must have success against the Redskins’ defense to slow the impressive pass rush that the Skins have with DEs Jason Taylor and Andre Carter. But, it won’t be easy as the Redskins have three outstanding linebackers who are good at stuffing the run in London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh and Marcus Washington. If the line is able to hold and give Manning time to throw the football he should have a good game with CB Shawn Springs out of this game due to injury. CBs Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot don’t match up too well with big WRs like Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer. Also, look for Manning to target 2nd year TE Kevin Boss over the middle quite a bit.
PREDICTION: NEW YORK GIANTS 20, WASHINGTON REDSKINS 17. I think the Giants will win a close game but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Redskins pull an upset here.
The Giants have signed rookie QB Andre Woodson to the practice squad. Woodson played in 3 preseason games for the Giants and he did not look good. He completed 3 of 9 passes (33.3%) for 41 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT (9.3 QB Rating). He also lost 2 fumbles. Woodson is where he needs to be…..on the practice squad…..because he’s going to need a lot of work to develop into a NFL QB.
The Giants released Stuart Schweigert after they got a quick look at him. He played in 4 preseason games for the Redskins and Giants this year and he made 9 tackles. QB Anthony Wright only played in 2 preseason games for the Giants this season and he completed 13 of 21 passes (61.9%) for 150 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 interception (63.6 QB Rating). He was beaten out for the backup job to Eli Manning by David Carr. The Giants won’t lose any sleep over letting Schweigert and Wright walk away.
The Giants have signed 44-year old John Carney and they have cut John Huston. With Lawrence Tynes out of action at least the first week, look for Carney to handle all of the kicking chores. Carney played with the Chiefs and Jaguars last season and he made 12 of 14 field goals (85.7%) and he also made 27 of 28 extra points. That proves that Carney still has a little left in that leg of his. Carney has made 425 of 519 field goals (81.9%) in his NFL career and 537 of 545 extra points (98.5%). Huston only made 2 of 4 field goals (50%) in the preseason for the Giants and 7 of 8 extra points. This was a good signing for the Giants who can’t afford to leave points on the football field this season.
The Giants have released WR Craphonso Thorpe as he was caught in a numbers game with the Giants. Thorpe caught 5 passes for 42 yards (8.4 avg) with a TD grab in the preseason for the Giants. It will be interesting to see if he gets a chance with another team this season as he has never lived up to his potential in his NFL career to date. Still, the Giants won’t miss Thorpe much if at all as they are loaded with depth at WR.
The Giants have placed Super Bowl hero David Tyree on the PUP List which will cause him to miss at least the first six games of the season. Tyree played in 12 games for the Giants last season and he only caught 4 passes for 35 yards (8.8 avg). The Giants probably won’t miss Tyree too much as he has never really had a big role in the offense of the Giants as he has played in 73 games in his NFL career but he has only caught 54 passes for 650 yards (12.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.