Tom Coughlin made it very clear to his team after their 17-16 loss to the Redskins last Monday night. "We have to win every game from here on out, we have no other choice."
Last Monday's loss to Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins, the New York Giants have seen their division lead shrink to just one game, and there's more than one team hot on their heels. The Redskins and Cowboys are both 6-6 while the Giants sit at 7-5. The Cowboys cruised past a dismal Philadelphia team last week, and the Skins beat the Giants on Monday Night Football.
The Giants have mad nothing easy on themselves, and now must win the rest of their games to assure themselves of a playoff spot.
On Sunday, Eli Manning and the Giants offense openly welcome the NFL's worst defense with open arms.
The New Orleans Saints, who have had a down year, are giving up 440 yards per game, a stat Eli doesn't mind looking at. But Manning and the Giants passing attack won't be the key to the Giants winning the game. It will be up to Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, and the Giants offensive line to control the clock and keep Drew Brees and company off the field.
The past two times the Giants have faced Brees and the Saints, Brees embarrassed the Giants defense putting up 48 points in 2009, and 49 last season. Fortunately for the Giants both games were played in the Superdome where the Saints are almost unbeatable.
The scene will shift to MetLife Stadium for tomorrows contest where the Giants are used to the cold and wind, and the Saints would rather be in the comfort of their own dome.
The Saints rushing defense has given up an average of 153.8 rush yards per game, which again ranks last in the league. Bradshaw has put up some of his best rushing numbers for the Giants since joining the Giants, and is headed for a 1,000 yard plus season. Tomorrow's game will be in his hands, and hopefully in David Wilson's hand eight to ten times.
This game is the must win game this season for the Giants over the next four weeks. After tomorrow the Giants go on the road for games against the 11-1 Atlanta Falcons, and the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens, and finish at home against the 3-9 Eagles. The game against the Eagles may mean nothing if the Giants can't win these three.
If the Giants have shown us anything it's that they play their best with their backs against the wall. They have successfully backed themselves against that wall with a 1-3 record over their last four games.
Tomorrow is going to be a high scoring game with both offenses putting up points, but the if the Giants can get their ground game going, they will be able to control the clock, and thus take the game out of Drew Brees hands.
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