The Patriots last-minute loss to the Giants in week 9, info that may or not be relevant in the 24-20 Giants win in Foxborough:
TAKE
Giants won without four offensive cogs
New York played without WR Hakeem Nicks, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, C David Baas and FB Henry Hynoski.
Without their leading rusher, the Giants rode Brandon Jacobs, giving him 18 carries and 41 snaps. Jacobs ran hard (72 yards, TD) but dropped an easy screen pass Bradshaw would have turned into a nice gain. The shiftier, speedier Bradshaw is back to dominate touches. Jacobs and Danny Ware now split the rest. Bradshaw, who has a stress fracture in his foot, will benefit from a week off after playing 54 snaps vs. San Fran.
Nicks? presence lets the Giants line up three wideouts who combined for 4,134 receiving yards. They used Ramses Barden in Week 9.
Against that formation, which New York loves, New England must use extra defensive backs. And the Pats struggle mightily when playing five or more DBs, according to ESPN Stats and Information. They allowed a 63.3 percent completion percentage (25th, NFL), 8.2 yards per pass attempt (30th) and 17 plays of 30-plus yards (tied for last).
With Hynoski out in Week 9, the Giants moved tight end Bear Pascoe to fullback. Pass protection suffered.
Baas? return is significant. His backup, Kevin Boothe, is better at guard and had occasional exchange problems with Eli Manning this season.
Heavy formation
New England used 6-foot-8, 319-pound Nate Solder as a third tight end on 30 percent of their Week 9 snaps.
They were unpredictable in that formation, running 12 times and passing 11.
The Pats? first-round pick was available to play tight end because he wasn?t starting at right tackle ? Sebastian Vollmer was. Vollmer hasn?t played since Nov. 27 due to foot and back injuries, but might return Sunday.
If he does, New England could go heavy again, boosting its run game and better protecting Brady.
"It has been a pretty productive grouping for us all year because we can do a few different things out of it," offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien said during the season. ?The ability to run, play-action, drop-back pass -- we can do a lot of different things -- screen, out of that grouping.?
Check Vollmer?s status throughout the week.
Pats? D much different
Bill Belichick has made wholesale changes since the Week 9 meeting. Two defenders who gave up huge plays on the Giants? game-winning drive no longer play.
LB Tracy White was in coverage on 3rd-and-10, but never turned his head around, when tight end Jake Ballard snagged a 28-yard seam completion. Officials flagged safety Sergio Brown for pass interference on Victor Cruz, giving the Giants the ball at the Patriots 2. Don?t bother looking for White or Brown on Sunday.
Other changes: Nickel corner Phillip Adams and DT Albert Haynesworth were cut, FS Josh Barrett and LB Gary Guyton were benched, and DE Andre Carter tore his quad. DT Gerard Warren is playing a lot more, Ron Brace a lot less.
Sterling Moore and Antwaun Molden did not play a snap in Week 9. Now they?re the Nos. 3 and 4 corners, with Julian Edelman sometimes used in the slot.
Giants comfortable in nickel
Unlike most teams? nickel packages, the Giants play three safeties -- Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant ? instead of three corners. That?s New York?s base defense. Each safety played at least 65 snaps in Week 9, and at least 55 snaps in the NFC title game.
We?ll again see Grant or linebacker Michael Boley covering Rob Gronkowski. They did a decent job in Week 9. Gronk caught eight balls for 101 yards and a touchdown, but needed 15 targets to do it.
On his 14-yard TD catch with 1:36 left, Gronk created space by pushing off on Boley. Analyst Troy Aikman said it ?could have been called offensive pass interference.?
LEAVE
Ochocinco?s O-fer
Pats WR Chad Ochocinco ran 17 pass routes, was targeted five times and made no catches in Week 9. He even got a sideline lecture from Brady. Edelman is the No. 3 WR now. Sunday, New England won?t waste many snaps on Ochocinco.
Manning?s inaccuracy
Without two of his favorite receivers in Week 9, Manning was unusually erratic. He completed 51 percent of his throws (20 of 39), compared to 61 percent for the season. When New York lined up three or more WRs, Manning hit just 7 of 20 passes.
That won?t happen with Nicks and Bradshaw joining Cruz, Manningham and Ballard as available targets.
Pats? superior pass rush
In Week 9, New England generated more of a pass rush than New York. The Patriots, aided by the home crowd, put 22 hits and pressures on Manning. Andre Carter led the way with three hits and five pressures; he?s on injured reserve.
The Giants sacked Brady twice, but only got two other hits plus nine pressures. New York?s D-line is playing at a much higher level now. In particular, Justin Tuck is healthier after dealing with nagging shoulder and groin injuries. In the NFC Championship Game, Tuck got 1.5 sacks, three pressures and four tackles.
GLTA
Giants +3
Under 27.5 1st half
TAKE
Giants won without four offensive cogs
New York played without WR Hakeem Nicks, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, C David Baas and FB Henry Hynoski.
Without their leading rusher, the Giants rode Brandon Jacobs, giving him 18 carries and 41 snaps. Jacobs ran hard (72 yards, TD) but dropped an easy screen pass Bradshaw would have turned into a nice gain. The shiftier, speedier Bradshaw is back to dominate touches. Jacobs and Danny Ware now split the rest. Bradshaw, who has a stress fracture in his foot, will benefit from a week off after playing 54 snaps vs. San Fran.
Nicks? presence lets the Giants line up three wideouts who combined for 4,134 receiving yards. They used Ramses Barden in Week 9.
Against that formation, which New York loves, New England must use extra defensive backs. And the Pats struggle mightily when playing five or more DBs, according to ESPN Stats and Information. They allowed a 63.3 percent completion percentage (25th, NFL), 8.2 yards per pass attempt (30th) and 17 plays of 30-plus yards (tied for last).
With Hynoski out in Week 9, the Giants moved tight end Bear Pascoe to fullback. Pass protection suffered.
Baas? return is significant. His backup, Kevin Boothe, is better at guard and had occasional exchange problems with Eli Manning this season.
Heavy formation
New England used 6-foot-8, 319-pound Nate Solder as a third tight end on 30 percent of their Week 9 snaps.
They were unpredictable in that formation, running 12 times and passing 11.
The Pats? first-round pick was available to play tight end because he wasn?t starting at right tackle ? Sebastian Vollmer was. Vollmer hasn?t played since Nov. 27 due to foot and back injuries, but might return Sunday.
If he does, New England could go heavy again, boosting its run game and better protecting Brady.
"It has been a pretty productive grouping for us all year because we can do a few different things out of it," offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien said during the season. ?The ability to run, play-action, drop-back pass -- we can do a lot of different things -- screen, out of that grouping.?
Check Vollmer?s status throughout the week.
Pats? D much different
Bill Belichick has made wholesale changes since the Week 9 meeting. Two defenders who gave up huge plays on the Giants? game-winning drive no longer play.
LB Tracy White was in coverage on 3rd-and-10, but never turned his head around, when tight end Jake Ballard snagged a 28-yard seam completion. Officials flagged safety Sergio Brown for pass interference on Victor Cruz, giving the Giants the ball at the Patriots 2. Don?t bother looking for White or Brown on Sunday.
Other changes: Nickel corner Phillip Adams and DT Albert Haynesworth were cut, FS Josh Barrett and LB Gary Guyton were benched, and DE Andre Carter tore his quad. DT Gerard Warren is playing a lot more, Ron Brace a lot less.
Sterling Moore and Antwaun Molden did not play a snap in Week 9. Now they?re the Nos. 3 and 4 corners, with Julian Edelman sometimes used in the slot.
Giants comfortable in nickel
Unlike most teams? nickel packages, the Giants play three safeties -- Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant ? instead of three corners. That?s New York?s base defense. Each safety played at least 65 snaps in Week 9, and at least 55 snaps in the NFC title game.
We?ll again see Grant or linebacker Michael Boley covering Rob Gronkowski. They did a decent job in Week 9. Gronk caught eight balls for 101 yards and a touchdown, but needed 15 targets to do it.
On his 14-yard TD catch with 1:36 left, Gronk created space by pushing off on Boley. Analyst Troy Aikman said it ?could have been called offensive pass interference.?
LEAVE
Ochocinco?s O-fer
Pats WR Chad Ochocinco ran 17 pass routes, was targeted five times and made no catches in Week 9. He even got a sideline lecture from Brady. Edelman is the No. 3 WR now. Sunday, New England won?t waste many snaps on Ochocinco.
Manning?s inaccuracy
Without two of his favorite receivers in Week 9, Manning was unusually erratic. He completed 51 percent of his throws (20 of 39), compared to 61 percent for the season. When New York lined up three or more WRs, Manning hit just 7 of 20 passes.
That won?t happen with Nicks and Bradshaw joining Cruz, Manningham and Ballard as available targets.
Pats? superior pass rush
In Week 9, New England generated more of a pass rush than New York. The Patriots, aided by the home crowd, put 22 hits and pressures on Manning. Andre Carter led the way with three hits and five pressures; he?s on injured reserve.
The Giants sacked Brady twice, but only got two other hits plus nine pressures. New York?s D-line is playing at a much higher level now. In particular, Justin Tuck is healthier after dealing with nagging shoulder and groin injuries. In the NFC Championship Game, Tuck got 1.5 sacks, three pressures and four tackles.
GLTA
Giants +3
Under 27.5 1st half
