New York Football Giants (8-6)
At
Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Sunday 4:25pm at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
This is probably the hardest game to prognosticate so far this season as the Ravens come in sporting a three-game losing streak and the Giants come into the game with their playoff lives on the line after getting dominated by the Falcons last week. The Giants looked more like the team they were during the regular season last year than the team that won the Super Bowl, but all they have to do is win their final two games and they will likely be in the playoffs, so nobody can count them out. Playing a team that has its playoff life hanging in the balance is very dangerous. Both teams are playing their worst football at the wrong time, but someone’s got to win right?…Well maybe not.
Here is my take on the game:
Ravens offense vs. Giants defense:
Once again, this is a tossup. Both teams have the players to be in the top 5 on their respective sides of the ball, but both have not played well, especially of late, and their struggles are the reasons their teams have not been performing well lately. The Giants front four on paper is one of the best in football, but they have not played their best this year. However, facing the Ravens offensive line could be precisely what they need, even if Justin Tuck is out. Outside of their front four, the Giants defense is weak, especially in the secondary, and if Flacco can get protection he should have some open throwing lanes – whether he capitalizes or not is on him. Given the struggles by both teams, I will refrain from giving the advantage to either because I honestly don’t know.
Advantage: Even
Ravens defense vs. Giants offense:
The only major difference between Eli Manning and Joe Flacco is two Super Bowl titles. Other than that they really are similar quarterbacks. While Manning has had a better year than Flacco has ever had, he also had a year where he threw 20 interceptions that made many call him a bust and was almost run out of town by NY fans. This season, both have the same number of attempts (Manning has completed four more passes), the same number of touchdowns (20) and are separated by only 116 yards. Manning has also thrown 15 interceptions to Flacco’s ten. Manning has also fumbled five times this season giving him 20 turnovers to Flacco’s 19. Manning however is given a pass on the bad games and bad seasons because of his Super Bowl titles. That being said, the Giants offense has playmakers at wide receiver who should be able to have success and give the Giants a big advantage here. Expect a lot of double moves from Victor Cruz and company and if the Ravens corners aren’t disciplined and bite on the double moves, Manning will exploit them and there will be a lot of wide open Giants receivers streaking down the field into the end zone.
Advantage: Giants
Special teams:
This might be one of the few teams that can match up in special teams with the Ravens. David Wilson can score every time he touches the ball while Lawrence Tynes was having one of the best of years ever by a kicker, which he isn’t anymore, but is still having a really good season. Jacoby Jones will need to revert back to the form that landed him special teams’ player of the week honors twice this season to help the Ravens win the game. Justin Tucker may be asked to kick a field goal that decides the game and there is no doubt in my mind he can come through.
Advantage: Even
Prediction:
This game emulates why the NFL is so great, it really is a week-to-week league. For the winner of this game, it won’t matter if you lost 34-0 the previous week like the Giants or lost your last three games like the Ravens. All that matters is winning this game and with the playoffs on the line for the Giants the game should be that much better. I have not given up on the Ravens like some have – they are in the playoffs and anything can happen there – but I do not like this spot for them. While I think the Giants are overrated, I just don’t think the Ravens can match up with the Giants receivers and I am not sure the offense will play well enough to exploit a terrible Giants secondary. Also the normally passionate purple clad crowd may have far too many people wearing blue in it to make it the normal home field advantage it really is. Maybe this is reverse psychology to help the Ravens, but I am going with the Giants.
Giants 27 Ravens 24.
Follow Marco on twitter @mromanell and southbmore.com @southbmore1
