Week in and week out Giant fans, including myself, have been looking for any type of silver lining that would justify another few days of false hope. Needless to say, the New York Giants have had a horrendous season with all facets of the game leaving something to be desired. Tonight the 0-6 Giants will be playing the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings in the epitome of a must win game. There are numerous components of the game that will be touched upon in order to show what the Giants must do to obtain their first win of the season. If the Giants lose tonight’s game it will certainly be the last straw for fans and undoubtedly there will no longer be any sense wishful thinking for the remainder of the season.

There are an array of things wrong with the New York Giants this season, but in my opinion the problems stem from the injuries and horrendous play of the offensive line. Tonight marks the return of Bass which is a much welcomed addition and will help anchor the line. Eli Manning has had absolutely no time to throw the ball and has been constantly battered by opposing defenses. The Giants have offensive weapons in Cruz, Nicks, and Randle that are not being utilized, because Eli cannot get on the same page with his receivers due to the fact that he is constantly worried about being taken down in the back field. Tonight’s game against the Vikings is a prime matchup that should allow Eli Manning to have a great game and finally have a sense of confidence. The Minnesota Vikings secondary has been decimated by injuries and have allowed an average of 308 yards of passing per game. The run game is also a big factor as to why the Giants haven’t been able to go over the top as often as they normally do. Tonight I would love to see the Giants run the Full-House formation with Jacobs, Connor, and Hillis in the back field, and just wear down the defense to open up the play action. The matchup bodes well for Eli as long as the giants can provide him the necessary time to find his receivers. If the offensive line allows Eli Manning to run his progressions and have time to throw the Giants will win this game.

Watching the New York Giants has seemed foreign this season due to the lack of the pass rush that New York has become predominantly known for. Granted the Giants have done well this season with stopping running backs, all phases of the defense need to be on the same page in order to end the defensive woes. Tonight it is crucial that the New York Giants get to Josh Freeman, a shaky quarterback with flashes of brilliance, to throw him off of his game. As previously mentioned, the Giants have done a good job stopping opposing rushers, but tonight they will have their hands full with Adrian Peterson. Peterson is the type of player who can find holes in the best defenses in the league so it is going to be scary to see what he can do against a porous one like the Giants. If DeAngelo Williams was able to rush for over 100 yards, the only opposing back with over 100 rushing yards against the Giants, I am worried to see what a back like Peterson will do. The pass rush of the defense is vital if the Giants want to win this game; the defensive pressure forces quarterbacks into making mistakes which the Giants desperately need to take advantage of. One of the biggest reasons the Giants have had an abysmal pass rush is the lack of dominance once displayed by Jason Pierre-Paul. It almost looks as if Pierre-Paul is afraid of reinjuring his back and the mental block is blatantly taking its toll on the field. The Giants must do everything in their power to get to the quarterback and increase their sacks from a league worst and dreadful five. The way that the defense has been playing, it would not surprise me if Freeman had close to 75 rushing yards; the linebackers have been a revolving door of easily forgotten play. As a quick side note, New York has to be aware of Cordarrelle Patterson; he is an incredible kick returner who may end up burning the Giants. It is crucial that the Giants contain the running game and force pressure on the quarter back with their pass rush in order to keep this game manageable.

As I have said six previous times this season, tonight’s game is a must win; an 0-7 start to the season is intolerable. No matter how many pieces the Giants have and how talented they are, it’s all for not if Eli Manning isn’t given the proper amount of time to find his targets. I’m curious to see if the Giants lose tonight will I be somber for a day or two only to regain hope, or would this finally be the loss to push me over the edge? A loss on a Monday Night game would mean an 0-7 start on a national stage which no doubt means that jobs will be on the line. The Giants start to the season is not only unacceptable, it is also taking away from what this coaching staff has done in the past. The Giants without a doubt have the talent to win this game, it’s just a matter of whether or not they can put all components of the game together at once. Ten days rest and home field advantage should mean the first win of the Giants season.

Prediction:

Giants 24-17

Written By Tim Cekovic