The Giants laid an egg last week in the team’s biggest game of the year.  The hope is that they will try to end the season on a strong note tomorrow but they also might be looking ahead to a extended vacation.  The Giants will have to make sure that they give Eli Manning enough time to throw the ball and it won’t be easy with Jared Allen lining up against them.  But if Manning has time to throw the ball he should be able to get it into the hands of Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Kevin Boss as the Vikings are allowing 223.2 yards per game through the air.  The Giants probably won’t have much of a running game tomorrow as Ahmad Bradshaw has a broken bone in each foot.

The Giants had better be ready to deal with Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor as the Vikings will likely be leaning on the running game a lot tomorrow.  The Vikings will likely keep the passing game short to help keep Brett Favre healthy for the playoffs.  If the Giants or Vikings get a big lead look for Tarvaris Jackson to get some P.T. at QB in this game. 

PREDICTION:  VIKINGS 27, GIANTS 20

This might be a tougher game than the Giants think it will on Sunday.  The Giants should be able to control the football with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw running against a Panthers’ D that is allowing 130.4 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  Eli Manning will have to be careful throwing the ball against the Panthers who already have 19 interceptions this season.  But, if the O-Line gives Manning time to throw the football which won’t be easy as Julius Peppers is a load to block then he should have some success.

The Giants will likely go all out to stop the Panthers’ running game as they are rolling up 148.1 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry so far this year.  The Giants must get pressure on Matt Moore when he drops back to pass because he has been getting the ball to Steve Smith which makes the Panthers a very explosive offense.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 24, PANTHERS 20

The New York Giants (7-5) had a great win over the Cowboys last week, but they have an even tougher opponent this week in the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4).  The Eagles have won three in a row, with Donovan McNabb leading the way.  The Giants cannot let McNabb beat them deep, and he will be passing the ball a lot so they will have some opportunities for interceptions.  If they can get a turnover or two off McNabb they will probably win.  Although McNabb will be throwing a lot, the Giants need to pay attention to LeSean McCoy who has the ability to make some big plays on the ground.

The Giants offense will need Eli Manning to be on top of his game.  Eli’s foot has been bothering him, but it should be better this week and he should be able to play through it with a lot less pain.  He has thrown an interception in three straight games though, and if the Giants don’t win the turnover battle they will lose the game.  Brandon Jacobs could help Eli out a lot if he can run the ball better than the 3 yard average he has been putting up lately.  The Eagles have been playing better football as of late, so I am going with them in a close game.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  New York Giants 20, Philadelphia Eagles 27

The Giants won the first match-up between these teams back in September 33-31 at Dallas but that seems like a long time ago.  The Giants appear to be a battered and bruised team so the Cowboys need to jump on them early in this game and get them to quit.  The Cowboys will likely come out running the ball in this game with the three pronged attack of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice against a Giants’ D that is allowing 4.2 yards per carry and 107.8 yards rushing per game.  The Giants will likely be blitzing the Cowboys a lot so Tony Romo might have to use a shorter passing attack with his ole buddy Jason Witten getting a lot more action than usual.  If the Giants’ safeties creep up to deal with the running game and Witten, then Romo should go up top to Miles Austin or Roy Williams.

The Giants will likely come out throwing the ball against the Cowboys as they are allowing 224.9 yards passing per game this year.  Eli Manning will need the O-Line to keep DeMarcus Ware away from him but that will be easier said than done.  Manning does a good job of spreading the ball around so the Cowboys won’t likely be able to double anyone.  Brandon Jacobs will likely shoulder a huge load in the running game as most of his caddies are injured and out for this game.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 30, COWBOYS 27

The Giants had to fight hard to get back on track last week with a hard fought O.T. win over the Falcons.  The Broncos on the other hand have lost four games in a row by a combined score of 117-37!  The last two home games the Broncos have played they lost by a combined 60-13 score.  The Giants will likely try to impose their will on the ground in this game with Brandon Jacobs and Danny Ware against a Broncos’ D that is allowing 115.3 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry.  If the Giants’ O-Line can keep Elvis Dumervil (12 sacks) away from Eli Manning he should be able to have some success throwing the ball.  But if the Broncos get a good rush on Manning he might make a big mistake or two against Champ Bailey and his veteran buddies in the Denver secondary.

The Broncos would like to be more balanced on offense against the Giants with Kyle Orton still a little bit gimpy.  That means that Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter will have to hold onto the ball against a Giants’ D that is allowing 104.8 yards rushing per game and 4.3 yards per carry.  The Giants can be passed on but they like to blitz a lot which could cause problems for the Broncos due to Orton’s ankle as he will be a sitting duck a lot of the time. 

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 27, BRONCOS 17