We all know how huge Sunday night's game against the Carolina Panthers is. Both teams are 11-3 and this game will, largely, determine the path each will have to take once the NFC playoffs begin.

Yes, home-field advantage is on the line. That, however, might not be the biggest reason the Giants would love to knock off the Panthers. In the Daily News today, Filip Bondy makes the point that the beaten-up Giants need rest for many of their top players, and a victory Sunday would provide nearly three weeks of it.

With that in mind, let's break down some of the keys to Sunday's game from the Giants' perspective.

Offensively

1. Run the football -- Since shredding the Baltimore Ravens for 207 yards rushing, the Giants have only reached 100 yards on the ground once in the last four games (108 vs. Washington). It is what the Giants do best, and they have to re-establish it. Having the 265-pound Brandon Jacobs would help, and Jacobs is intent on being in the lineup. As Tom Coughlin said, the Giants need the "physical tone" Jacobs provides. The Giants may also catch a break this week if Panther nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu can't play.
2. Get Julius Peppers blocked -- The Dallas defensive ends embarrassed Giants tackles David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie and Kevin Boothe last Sunday. Peppers (12.5 sacks) is one of the best in the business, and no matter which side he lines up on the Giants have got to give the tackles help and keep him off Eli Manning.
3. Stretch the field -- I don't care which wide receiver it is, the Giants need to hit a play or two down the field. With Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham they have the speed. It's time for somebody to make a play.

Defensively

1. Control the running game -- With DeAngelo Williams (1229 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (751) Carolina has been chewing teams up on the ground. The Panthers' 'Smash and Dash' duo has been doing what the Giants 'Earth, Wind & Fire' trio did to teams the first two-thirds of the season. The Giants have struggled against the run the past two weeks, giving up big plays the past two weeks and not controlling Philadelphia at all. It is a formidable challenge, but the Giants have to slow the Panthers' ground game. If Fred Robbins can play, that would be a huge help.
2. Giants corners vs. Carolina receivers -- The Giants recently handed Corey Webster a $43.5 million contract. He is going to begin earning it Sundayy, when he likely draws all-world wide receiver Steve Smith (70 catches, six touchdowns). Aaron Ross vs. Muhsin Muhammad on the other side will also be a terrific matchup. Muhammad's 54 catches is more than any Giants receiver. The Giants have to find a way to limit these two because Carolina hasn't proven that they really have anywhere else for Jake Delhomme to throw the football. And, yes, limiting them is a huge task.
3. Get some pressure on Delhomme -- It would be nice if the Giants could do this with a four-man rush, which they have not been able to do in recent weeks. Blitzing corners and safeties is very dangerous against Carolina. If the Giants do that and don't get home, they are one-on-one against Smith and Muhammad.

NOTE: For more game analysis, there is a fabulous Giants vs. Panthers debate on ESPN.com between bloggers Matt Mosley and Pat Yasinskas.