"all the teams left have their blemishes, except the Giants when they are on...

[MightyGiants]

there game"   That is what Ross Tucker said this morning on the opening drive and I have to admit I can't see a flaw in that statement

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[St Marys]

I would have to disagree, I'm afraid. 

The ground game remains weak, and the Secondary may be performing better, but it remains a weak link.   

What I do like is that where we are strong we are very strong (pass game, QB and run D), and that no team left at this stage is infallible in all 3 phases of the game.  Everyone has weaknesses to some extent.

[MightyGiants]

You make a good point St Mary's.  Right now the weakest part of the Giants game appears to be the run.  Although if you ask the Falcons about that, they may say differently

[zephirus]

People put so much emphasis on the running game.  It DOESN'T matter if you rush the ball effectively, it just matters that you rush the ball.  This was pretty evident last week when the Giants averaged under 4 yards per carry, and if it hadn't been for a long run by Jacobs at the end of the game, and a long run by Bradshaw before the half, the stats would have been even worse.  It only matters that you rush to keep the defense honest.  I don't seem to remember the Giants rushing the ball all that well in the 07 post season either.  Teams are too good in the post-season to put too much emphasis on this. 

[PSUBeirut]

People put so much emphasis on the running game.  It DOESN'T matter if you rush the ball effectively, it just matters that you rush the ball.  This was pretty evident last week when the Giants averaged under 4 yards per carry, and if it hadn't been for a long run by Jacobs at the end of the game, and a long run by Bradshaw before the half, the stats would have been even worse.  It only matters that you rush to keep the defense honest.  I don't seem to remember the Giants rushing the ball all that well in the 07 post season either.  Teams are too good in the post-season to put too much emphasis on this.

I'd agree with that, with the caveat of "as long as your QB is consistently red-hot at converting long third downs".  Eli is right now and we can only hope he stays that way, if our rushing struggles persist (and against the Niners, odds are good they will).

I'm actually more frightened of the Niners than the Saints after last week.  I've not seen a pass defense that good for quite some time- the Niners really did an amazing job of covering receivers.  Brees had all day to throw many times and simply had trouble finding anyone.  It doesn't show up in the stats because of how heavily the Saints rely on the passing game, but what I saw with my eyes was pretty incredible stuff- guys blanketed everywhere.  If the Niners can pull that off again, this could be a very low scoring affair...

[WheresDayne]

The Saints put themselves in a big hole by playing very sloppy and very poorly to begin that game.  The Niners have a good defense but I don't think it's as good as people make it out to be or the stats show.  The Niners had 6 games against the Rams, Seahawks and Cardinals...and I know we lost to the Hawks and we have the Redskins in our division...but I just can't put the Niner defense in an elite category.

Our offense is head and shoulders above them and our defense has been playing as well, if not better lately.

[Rambo89]

If the Giants don't turnover the ball and they are physical they will win. Turnovers were the difference last time and they can't be again.

[jimmyz]

Getting in 3rd and manageable situation may be a factor against the defense we're facing.

[Cid in Dupont]

I don't care how good their pass def has looked lately.  There is simply no way they can cover all 5 of our weapons on a passing down.  The Saints are great because of Brees.  The Giants are really good because of Eli, but they're great (on offense) because we have the best group of 3 receivers (at least they are playing like that) in the NFL.  No other team can (especially left in the playoffs) can say this.  Then throw in Balard/Beckum, & Bradshaw & I don't know how DC's sleep at night facing this offense.  Easy will always find the open man & make the other team pay.

If the Giants continue to play at their potential they should win this one!

IMHO...Cid

[andrew_nyg]

People put so much emphasis on the running game.  It DOESN'T matter if you rush the ball effectively, it just matters that you rush the ball.  This was pretty evident last week when the Giants averaged under 4 yards per carry, and if it hadn't been for a long run by Jacobs at the end of the game, and a long run by Bradshaw before the half, the stats would have been even worse.  It only matters that you rush to keep the defense honest.  I don't seem to remember the Giants rushing the ball all that well in the 07 post season either.  Teams are too good in the post-season to put too much emphasis on this.

I'd agree with that, with the caveat of "as long as your QB is consistently red-hot at converting long third downs".  Eli is right now and we can only hope he stays that way, if our rushing struggles persist (and against the Niners, odds are good they will).

I'm actually more frightened of the Niners than the Saints after last week.  I've not seen a pass defense that good for quite some time- the Niners really did an amazing job of covering receivers.  Brees had all day to throw many times and simply had trouble finding anyone.  It doesn't show up in the stats because of how heavily the Saints rely on the passing game, but what I saw with my eyes was pretty incredible stuff- guys blanketed everywhere.  If the Niners can pull that off again, this could be a very low scoring affair...

and I DISAGREE with that sentiment for the reasons you state PSU...The Niners are a MUCH more formidible defense than the Packers...and probably the toughest defense the Giants faced all year (the they have improved since the Giants last played them).

The Giants are not going to get away with using the running game as a decoy against this defense...not the way their front seven plays. The Giants MOST CERTAINLY need an effective running game on Sunday.

3rd and long was easy pickens against the Packers...it will prove a FEAST for the Niners.

120+ yards rushing is necessary in this game.

[zephirus]

I think any semblance of a running game on Sunday would be a bonus.  The 49ers are very solid in that area.  That being said, I don't think Drew Brees' struggles bear any relevance to the Giants.  Simply put, the Giants receivers are better.  With the exception of Marques Colston, I think the Saints' passing numbers are certainly more a product of scheme and Brees than talent.  I'd love to see nothing more than a dominant ground game to go along with Eli's play, but I'm not sure it's in the cards.  The only team this post-season that really rushed the ball WELL, was Houston and they lost anyway.  Eli's play is more imortant than the running game.  If we can average 3.5-4 yards per carry, enough to keep the 9ers honest, I don't see that as a hindrance to winning.

[files58]

What lost the game for the Saints was their defense. They had the lead late and gave it up. Coughlin's experience vs Harbaugh's might also have some impact. The 9ers will test our run defense, very glad Canty was not badly hurt. He has been very effective in the middle.

[zephirus]

I was curious about my rushing theory so I looked up the numbers during the 07 post-season run.  I think they bear out that while the Giants had a balanced attack, they didn't rush the ball well.  I consider 4 yards per carry the standard you want to meet, 5 would be phenomenal.

Tampa Bay - Bradshaw (17-66), Jacobs (13-34) = 30 carries for 100 yards, 3.3 average
Dallas - Jacobs (14-54), Bradshaw (6-34) = 20 carries for 88 yards, 4.4 average
Green Bay - Jacobs (21-67), Bradshaw (16-63) = 37 carries for 130 yards, 3.5 average
New England - Bradshaw (9-45), Jacobs (14-42) = 23 carries for 87 yards, 3.7 average

[MightyGiants]

I was curious about my rushing theory so I looked up the numbers during the 07 post-season run.  I think they bear out that while the Giants had a balanced attack, they didn't rush the ball well.  I consider 4 yards per carry the standard you want to meet, 5 would be phenomenal.

Tampa Bay - Bradshaw (17-66), Jacobs (13-34) = 30 carries for 100 yards, 3.3 average
Dallas - Jacobs (14-54), Bradshaw (6-34) = 20 carries for 88 yards, 4.4 average
Green Bay - Jacobs (21-67), Bradshaw (16-63) = 37 carries for 130 yards, 3.5 average
New England - Bradshaw (9-45), Jacobs (14-42) = 23 carries for 87 yards, 3.7 average

How does that compare to the last 2 games?

[andrew_nyg]

I was curious about my rushing theory so I looked up the numbers during the 07 post-season run.  I think they bear out that while the Giants had a balanced attack, they didn't rush the ball well.  I consider 4 yards per carry the standard you want to meet, 5 would be phenomenal.

Tampa Bay - Bradshaw (17-66), Jacobs (13-34) = 30 carries for 100 yards, 3.3 average
Dallas - Jacobs (14-54), Bradshaw (6-34) = 20 carries for 88 yards, 4.4 average
Green Bay - Jacobs (21-67), Bradshaw (16-63) = 37 carries for 130 yards, 3.5 average
New England - Bradshaw (9-45), Jacobs (14-42) = 23 carries for 87 yards, 3.7 average

Good stuff Zeph...except one minor problem with the comparison: None of the abovementioned have a front 7 within the same galaxy of this year's Niners....If Eli is going to have the opportunity to do what he can do without getting Killed...the Giants are going to need a good running day (BTW I don't think it's unattainable)