Our New York Giants (5-3) need a win this afternoon against the San Diego Chargers (4-3). Personally, I don't care how they got one.
Maybe the defense will remember the idea is to stop the other guy, not watch them run by. Maybe Eli Manning will remember the ball is supposed to go to the guys with the 'ny' on their helmets. Maybe we can recruit Ed Hochuli to referee the game and screw the Chargers.
I really don't care. Whatever it takes. As long as the Giants finish with more points than San Diego today, life will be good.
Now, with that out of the way, let's preview the game 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style.
There will be lots of 'Kudos' if ...
- The Giants defense actually does its job. How about some pass rush, gang? Maybe stop a running play before LaDainian Tomlinson or Darren Sproles is running free in the secondary? Make a tackle on the first try, instead of whiffing and giving up another 30 yards? Cover a deep ball once in a while? Maybe the return of Michael Boley and Chris Canty will help. Let's hope Aaron Rouse is at least a little better than C.C. Brown.
- Brandon Jacobs has a big day. It's time for Jacobs, having a disappointing season thus far, to have a big game. The Chargers don't generally defend the run well, so this would be a great week for Kevin Gilbride to give San Diego a heavy dose of smash-mouth football. The Giants are 8-1 when Jacobs runs for more than 100 yards, and today would be a good day to make it 9-1.
- The Giants stop turning the ball over. The Giants have twice as many turnovers right now as they did after eight games last season. That has to stop.
- Eli plays better. This, of course, goes along with the turnovers. Manning has not been himself the past couple of weeks, and he needs to get that turned around. Settle down, stop forcing the ball. Stop letting the play clock run out as he frantically tries to align the blocking. Hit some of those open receivers he has missed the past couple of weeks.
There will be lots of 'Wet Willies' if ...
- Aaron Rouse doesn't prove to be at least marginally better than C.C. Brown.
- Bill Sheridan doesn't have a better plan. Yeah, the blitz is nice but not when it keeps coming from the wrong side. Or, the defense keeps running itself right out of plays. Sheridan needs to begin to show he is up to the job.
- The special teams break down again. Each week it seems some part of the special teams has faltered, leaving the Giants in a hole. At the very least, the Giants have to be neutral with San Diego n the kicking game. And it sure would be nice to see Domenik Hixon or Danny Ware break a return.