Giants just need to be the Giants
Our new pal 'Rexx' from Baltimore Beatdown has a nice post up today over at his site titled 'How to Beat the New York Giants.'
Here are some of his thoughts on what the Baltimore Ravens have to do in order to win Sunday.
So then how do our Ravens go into the Meadowlands and leave Sunday with a victory over the 8-1 and defending Super Bowl Champs? There are only two chinks in the armor that I think we can plan to exploit. The first is in our control, the second we'll need New York's cooperation. The Ravens lead the league in time of possession. If we can have a couple of long, time consuming drives that result in points, that will wear down the Giants defense, as their offense also ranks high in time of possession and their defense is just not used to being kept on the field longer than the offense. At the same time, the Ravens will need every advantage they can get and to me that translates to a wide open playbook, including trick plays. A quick, easy score can give us some breathing room and take pressure off Joe Flacco and the rest of the offense, while giving them the confidence to move the ball and keep the Giants alert and on their heels.
The second item that we will need the Giants to cooperate with us for is that while the Ravens turnover differential is -2, the Giants are at +6, which is tied for the best in the NFC, but lags far behind the Titans +11 which leads the NFL. The Ravens will need Eli Manning to continue his streak of throwing an interception in the past two games. This should help the Ravens get the short field they feast upon to drive the ball downhill to the end zone. While the Giants defeated the Ravens next opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles last week, they did give up 31 points in the victory, proving that as good as their defense is, it can be scored upon, and we all know the Ravens are averaging over 33 points during their current four game winning streak.
Last, but certainly not least, is the ability of Special Teams to affect the outcome of the game. The Ravens absolutely must shut down the Giants return game if they want to keep this game close and have a chance to pull another one out on the road. Conversely, they will need a big return or two to give them a boost and put the Giants on alert.
I am not going to counter with a 'How to Beat the Ravens' post.
That is not out of conceit, or out of disrespect to a very good Ravens football team.
It is simply this -- I don't feel like I have to analyze anything. The Giants simply need to be the Giants on Sunday.
Suffocating defense, balanced offense including enough running and some big plays in the passing game, solid special teams and win the turnover battle.
That has, for the most part, been the formula that won the Giants a Super Bowl and has led them to an 8-1 start.
If the Giants stick to that it will be good enough Sunday, too.
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Thats still not enough to beat the giants.
What a great analysis from our new pal REXX!! HOWEVER, thats how u win any football game. Did they forget the part of to put pressure on Eli is only by getting through the Offensive Line. Maybe they should reanalyze the G-men and stop whining about there number one rushing defense. If the Raven’s were in the NFC East they would be in last place.
Joe L
Not sure thats true
Kinglongo,
I am with you on that being the formula for any team, but I am not convinced they would be in last place in the NFC east. Their run-stopping defense would be tough for the Redskins and Eagles to score on and they certainly could have handled Dallas the last 5 weeks.
I think the Ravens are a good team, but Ed is right. It is much less about what the Ravens have to do as much as what the Giants can do. Good game to come.
by losangelesmets on Nov 13, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
Alright.....
Look, Rexxy’s not breaking any new ground here. Ball control offense, force turnovers, eliminate mistakes….sounds to me like a formula any team would love to be successful at on a Sunday. The Ravens are a very solid team but they are not world-beaters. As long as the Giants play their game (like you said, Ed) they’ll be fine.
And to me, this isn’t about how good or how bad the Ravens are – this game is about how good this Giants team can be, and how good this team is. So long as they keep their game together and don’t break from the script too much, they’ll be fine.
Averaging 33 points a game....
…in their last four games against Miami, Oakland, Cleveland, and Houston.
Their defenses rank 18th, 25th, 27th, and 19th respectively.
Let’s have a little perspective.
As long as the Giants don’t shoot themselves in the foot they should be fine.
And personally i would love to see Jacobs run over Ray Lewis.
we put up 20 on the steelers
:-/
Life is nothing but Beats & Rhymes
by Matchz Malone on Nov 13, 2008 5:31 PM EST up reply actions
Rex has made the argument he needs to for the Ravens to win the game.
Like always with two good teams it will probably come down to line play and quarterback savy. Flacco hasn’t been pressured the way we are capable of doing. He’s shown a lot of poise but is still a rookie, and pressure will likely affect him.
I thought we played a little sloppy offensively last week so we need to do better. I’d like to see no interceptions this week.
by giant fan since 57 on Nov 13, 2008 5:54 PM EST reply actions
Definitely
The sloppiness last week was very worrisome. I’m still holding out hope that it was because it was their first game in cold weather. Let’s hope it’s cleaned up this week.
Wear Down the Giants defense?
Be worried about the Giants D wearing down the O line. I think looking back at a Dallas game last year one key to the victory was keeping the Dallas offense on the field to be so tired they became pores in the second half. Don’t know too much about the Ravens but it sounds like their defense is the ball breaker. Hell, now that I think about it let the Ravens control the clock and make Flacco try win the game, or rather get to know Tuck and some of the others a little more close up.
To be honest with you, I agree
that if the Giants play like the Giants can, then you will win the game. Man for man, the Giants are the better team. That’s why you went into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers while we did not. The, of course, to screw that analogy up, there’s the Cleveland game that you lost while we beat them bad twice. For the Ravens to go into the Meadowlands and beat your Giants, a lot has to go right for the Ravens while a lot has to go wrong for the Giants. I’m just saying and that is why I posted it, that if those things actually do go the Ravens’ way, we can win this game despite you being the better team.
Stranger things than that have happened so far in this topsy-turvy season, right?
Rexx
If its close
in the 4th quarter Eli will finish it; I see the Ravens needing Minnesota’07 type game from the Gmen to win the game, and I don’t think the Giants are that kinda team anymore. They play within the scheme and within their individual abilities, and a emphasis on not making mistakes.
Oh,
and wouldn’t this be a good time for Plax to show up?
Funny
Last year if Plaxico had been as much of a non issue as he has lately, we would be losing. It just shows how well balanced our offense has become with Boss catching more balls, Toomer making clutch catches, and Steve Smith grabbing those third down passes over the middle in traffic.
This year our opponents can’t figure out our game plan as easily since we have so many threats. Last week Toomer caught about four in a row. This week it might be Smith, or Plaxico could come roaring back. But please, please no more passes to Madison….LOL
by giant fan since 57 on Nov 14, 2008 5:36 AM EST reply actions
The only way I see the G-Men losing...
is if Eli has one oh his clunkers, which are becoming more and more rare these days. I’m not overly worried about the Ravens offense, but if we give them points, then this game gets scary.
"We're only going to score 17 points?" ~ Tom Brady
This will just not be a defensive struggle
and the points will be a lot higher than people normally asociate with the Ravens. Both teams give up points compared to past years, regardless of their defensive ranking. I’m looking for a game in the 20’s, not the teens that others may think. Bet the house on the “over!”
Rexx
our Special Teams aren’t very good..thats scary. you’ll get the ball around the 35 after most kick offs…and hopefully we’ll be kicking off a ton : )
Huh??
Umm… go check the stats of the last games minus the game against Cribbs
Life is nothing but Beats & Rhymes
by Matchz Malone on Nov 14, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

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