The Giants waved the white flag early last season and last December 27th they were pounded 41-7 on their own field by the Panthers.  Revenge will be on the minds for the Giants when they open up the new stadium for real this Sunday.  Here is a look at the match-ups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  The Panthers let DE Julius Peppers leave as a free agent over the summer meaning they won’t have much of a pass rush.  With that in mind look for Eli Manning to attack the Panthers with WRs Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.  They will also look underneath to TE Kevin Boss to challenge Panthers’ safeties Sherrod Martin and Charles Godfrey.  The Giants are going to also got out of the way Sunday to get the running game back in the groove with Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs pounding at the Panthers’ front seven.

When the Panthers have the ball:  The Giants are going to have to tighten up the chinstraps this week as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are coming after them on the ground.  The Panthers rushed for 247 yards in the last meeting between these two teams.  DeAngelo Williams was out hurt in the last meeting, but Jonathan Stewart carried the ball 28 times for 206 yards (7.4 ypc) with a TD run against the Giants.  The Giants can’t let the RBs of the Panthers have that kind of success again if they want to win this football game.  The Giants will also have to get after QB Matt Moore because if he has time to throw the Panthers will likely be able to get the ball to Steve Smith which also would not be good for the Giants.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 23, PANTHERS 21