Big Blue View - Giants vs. Chargers 2013: Complete coverage of Week 14 matchupYour place for year-round New York Giants discussion and informationhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47371/bigblueview_fave.png2013-12-09T08:50:30-05:00http://www.bigblueview.com/rss/stream/49382652013-12-09T08:50:30-05:002013-12-09T08:50:30-05:00'Kudos & Wet Willies,' Giants vs. Chargers edition
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>Looking back at the Giants' loss to San Diego on Sunday with our traditional 'Kudos & Wet Willies' review of the action.</p> <p>Let's review the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>' 37-14 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a> in our traditional 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/33146/wetwillies_468.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wetwillies_468_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/33146/wetwillies_468_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1386596370661"></p>
<h5>Kudos to ...</h5>
<p><span>Justin Tuck</span> --Two more sacks, a forced fumble and six tackles. With six sacks in two weeks Tuck now has 8.5 on the season. Tuck has been solid all season and the past couple of weeks he has added serious numbers to his resume. He is earning a payday this offseason. Question is, will it be with the cap-strapped Giants?</p>
<p><span>Antrel Rolle</span> -- Ten tackles for Rolle. The guy gives serious, admirable effort week in and week out.</p>
<p><span>Hakeem Nicks</span> -- Five catches for Nicks for 135 yards. He was responsible for the Giants' three longest plays of the day -- catches of 51, 43 and 28 yards. Still, Nicks has yet to find the end zone this season.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3694477/USATSI_7607244.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Usatsi_7607244_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3694477/USATSI_7607244_medium.jpg"></a> <br><i>Eli Manning threw two more passes to the wrong team on Sunday. [<span>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports]</span></i></p>
<h5><span>Wet Willies To ...</span></h5>
<p><span>Eli Manning</span> -- Two more interceptions, marking the third time in his career he has thrown at least 20 picks in a season. His career-worst is 25 and with three games to go it's pretty clear that mark is in serious jeopardy. Manning's 20-of-32 looks OK on the stat sheet, but he was awful Sunday. There were several passes slightly off-target, including the one that bounced off <span>Rueben Randle</span> for his first pick. There were ill-advised throws. There was yet another delay of game penalty, with Manning still trying to change a play as the clock ran out. Chargers fans had fun booing and mocking 'ShEli.' He did absolutely nothing to quiet them.</p>
<p>Offensive Line -- <span>Will Beatty</span> gave up his 11th sack of the season. <span>James Brewer</span> whiffed on at least two blocks, nearly got Manning broken in half and showed for the second straight week why the Giants rarely let him see the field for his first two-and-one-half seasons. <span>David Diehl</span> got pushed back into Manning for a sack. The Giants opened a couple of holes for <span>Andre Brown</span> to run through in the second half when the game was out of reach. Big deal.</p>
<p><b>Special Teams</b> -- An unforgivable offside penalty on a field goal that cost the Giants three points and another awful day returning the ball. Bad penalties, poor kick coverage and pitiful returning have marked the Giants' season. At least Sunday the coverage wasn't awful.</p>
<p><b>Pass defense </b>-- <span>Terrell Thomas</span> got torched for a 43-yard touchdown by Keenan Allen. There were mis-communications. The Giants could not handle <span>Antonio Gates</span> or <span>Danny Woodhead</span> and could not get the chargers off the field, surrendering 10 third-down conversions in 15 opportunities. <span>Prince Amukamara</span> got turned around repeatedly. By the way, am I the only one who thinks Amukamara has seriously regressed over the past few weeks?</p>
<p><span>Mathias Kiwanuka</span> -- Really, Mathias? Another foolish unnecessary roughness penalty? That is at least three of those, if not more, on the veteran defensive end this season. He isn't an inexperienced young kid, he should know better. At least, though, Kiwanuka can say he has done something well this season.</p>
<p><b>Run defense</b> -- No long runs for <span>Ryan Mathews</span>, but he ended up with 103 yards on 29 carries as San Diego ran the ball just well enough.</p>
<h5>Kwillies To ...</h5>
<p>Andre Brown -- 81 yards on 16 carries, which averages out to a nice-looking 5.1 yards per carry. Almost all of it came in the second half, however, and Brown did commit a critical first-half fumble.</p>
<h5>Final Thoughts</h5>
<p>There is really nothing to feel good about after watching the Giants on Sunday. This is a team that has no real strengths to hang its hat on, nothing that really threatens the opposition.</p>
<p>I left the coordinators out of the 'K&WW' discussion, but they are hardly blameless. Sunday marked three straight scoreless first quarters for the Giants. They didn't score in the first half and didn't have a possession that lasted more than seven plays. Defensively, the Giants surrendered points on seven of nine San Diego drives, including four drives of 11 plays or more. Umm, Kevin Gilbride and Perry Fewell, what were you guys doing? On special teams the same problems crop up week after week, and seemingly year after year. Tom Quinn seems to have no answers.</p>
<p>You can make a solid case that the biggest issue on this team is the offensive line, and I believe that to be true. Just about everywhere else you look, however, with the probable exceptions of quarterback and safety, you can argue that the Giants simply aren't good enough.</p>
<p>There are three games to be played, but this season is over. Will the Giants this offseason finally stop fooling themselves into believing they are a championship-caliber team and act aggressively to fix the many issues they have? Four playoff-less seasons in five years is plenty of evidence that changes are needed.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/9/5190400/giants-at-chargers-kudos-wet-willies-reviewEd Valentine2013-12-08T20:56:23-05:002013-12-08T20:56:23-05:00Instant Analysis: Giants' flaws on full display
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>All the Giants' flaws were on display Sunday in a horrific 37-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers.</p> <p>Everything that is wrong with the 2013 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> was on full display Sunday during their 37-14 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a>. The Giants watched themselves be eliminated from the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons on Sunday, drowning helplessly in a sea of bad football.</p>
<p>Think of everything that has been problematic for the Giants this season, and almost all of it was on display in Sunday's loss.</p>
<p>"We got beat up in all phases of the game," said defensive end <span>Justin Tuck</span>.</p>
<p>How right he was.</p>
<p><b>Turnovers. </b>There were three of those. There were two <span>Eli Manning</span> interceptions, and could have been a third if not for a review that overturned a pass originally ruled an interception. Blame whoever you want for Sunday's picks, it doesn't matter. This is now the third time in Manning's 10-year career he has thrown at least 20 interceptions. Manning's career high in interceptions for a season is 25. With three games to go, no one will be surprised if that mark gets obliterated.</p>
<p><b>Bad penalties. </b><span>Charles James</span> cost the Giants three points in the first half with an offside penalty after <span>Nick Novak</span> of San Diego missed a 41-yard field goal. Novak made the subsequent 36-yarder to make the score 10-0. <span>Spencer Paysinger</span> had a pass interference in the end zone. <span>Mathias Kiwanuka</span> took a foolish unnecessary roughness penalty, something that has been an all-too-common occcurrence for the veteran this year. There was yet another delay of game penalty.</p>
<p><b>Breakdowns in pass coverage.</b> <span>Terrell Thomas</span> let <span>Keenan Allen</span> run right by him for a 43-yard touchdown. Thomas and <span>Prince Amukamara</span> got fouled up in the coverage on a 4-yard touchdown catch by Allen. Why was Paysinger left to try and cover a wide receiver 40 yards down the field in the end zone, anyway, on the play where he was penalized? The Giants could handle either running back <span>Danny Woodhead</span> (4 catches, 52 yards) or tight end <span>Antonio Gates</span> (4 catches, 50 yards).</p>
<p><b>Poor offensive line play. </b>This has been a constant all season and it continued Sunday. Manning was sacked just twice, but was pressured on a number of occasions. Left tackle <span>Will Beatty</span> surrendered his 11th sack of the year. <span>James Brewer</span>, trying to take advantage of a showcase at left guard, completely whiffed on blocks at least twice. <span>David Diehl</span> surrendered a sack from the right guard slot.</p>
<p><b>Poor special teams play. </b>The Giants didn't give up any long returns, but they didn't help themselves on special teams. James' penalty cost them three points, and an opportunity to shift momentum. The miss would have been Novak's first in 10 tries outside 40 yards this season, and would have set the Giants up with an opportunity to drive for a game-tying score. Instead, it was 10-0 San Diego. The Giants were awful returning kickoffs, with a long of only 23 yards in six returns. Cox is far from a great returner, but the blocking for him was non-existent.</p>
<p><b>Inconsistent offense. </b>Manning completed 64 percent of his passes, but was off the mark slightly on many throws. He missed a long ball to Louis Murphy Jr., under-throwing it. There were drops by receivers. There seemed to be receivers not in places where Manning expected them to be. There were the blocking issues. There were struggles to get playoffs off before the clock ran out. Listening to the San Diego fans booing Manning was really funny -- they should have been cheering the futility of the Giants when they had the ball.</p>
<p><b>Defensive struggles.</b> The 0-6 start was peppered with awful defense. The recent stretch of five wins in six games featured much better, at times dominant, defense. Sunday, the Giants reverted to their old ways. San Diego scored on seven of nine possession, discounting the game-ending kneel-down. San Diego's Ryan Mathews ran 29 times for 103 yards. The defense surrendered four drives of 11 plays or more, the Chargers went 10-of-15 on third down and held the ball for 35:56.</p>
<h5><span>Conclusion</span></h5>
<p>The Giants deserved their fate on Sunday. Ultimately, they also deserve their playoff-less fate this season. They deserve credit for their resilience in winning five of six after their terrible start, but that's all. They aren't a playoff-caliber football team in any area.</p>
<p>We have many months now to diagnose and discuss what, exactly, is wrong with the Giants and what needs to be done to fix it. With only one playoff appearance in five years -- albeit a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>-winning one -- whatever the Giants are doing isn't working.</p>
<p>It is obvious some things need to change. What those are, and how deeply they impact both the roster and the coaching staff, we will find out in the coming months.</p>
<p>The Giants, however, can't go forward from here continuing to try to fool themselves into believing they are a championship-caliber team undone by injuries or bad breaks. They have been undone by their own ineptitude.</p>
<p>All we can do now is wait to see how they deal with it.</p>
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https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5189814/instant-analysis-loss-shows-all-that-is-wrong-with-the-giantsEd Valentine2013-12-08T19:33:33-05:002013-12-08T19:33:33-05:00Chargers 37, Giants 14: Playoff dream ends
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<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>The Giants watched their playoff hopes end Sunday when they were routed by the San Diego Chargers.</p> <p>The dream is over. The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a>' hopes of becoming the first NFL team to make the playoffs after starting a season 0-6 died on Sunday with a lopsided 37-14 loss to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego Chargers</a>. The loss, combined with Arizona's victory over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a>, eliminated the Giants from playoff contention.</p>
<p>The Giants have now missed the playoffs four times in five seasons.</p>
<p>The Giants imploded right from the beginning of this game, reverting to their season-opening 0-6 form. Turnovers, unforced penalties, coverage mistakes, an inability on the part of the defense to get off the field. All were present.</p>
<p>The Giants were never really competitive. They fell behind 24-0 in the first half, with a pair of turnovers and an offside penalty by <span>Charles James</span> on a missed San Diego field goal helping the Chargers.</p>
<p>San Diego scored seven of the nine times in had the ball.</p>
<p>The Giants are 5-8 now. With games against the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Seahawks</a>, <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Lions</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Redskins</a> remaining the Giants will be hard-pressed to avoid their first losing season since going 6-10 in 2004, Tom Coughlin's first season as head coach.</p>
<p><span>Eli Manning</span> went 20-of-32 for 259 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Giants and was booed throughout by Chargers' fans, who still haven't forgiven him for dissing them on darft day in 2004. Most likely, Giants' fans spent a good chunk of the day booing their own team. Manning, incidentally, now has 20 interceptions this season.</p>
<p><b>GAME BALL: </b>Tough to really single out any Giants for praise, but you have to give a nod to defensive end Justin Tuck. He followed up his four-sack Defensive Player of the Week performance against the Washington Redskins with two sacks, a forced fumble and six tackles.</p>
<p><b>NEXT WEEK: </b>The Giants host <span>Russell Wilson</span> and the Seattle Seahawks in a 1 p.m. ET start.</p>
<p>Discuss the carnage of both Sunday's game and the Giants' season right here. More coverage to come later this evening, and 'Kudos & Wet Willies' in the morning.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5189766/giants-chargers-final-score-giants-routed-37-14-nfl-week-14-coresEd Valentine2013-12-08T17:53:03-05:002013-12-08T17:53:03-05:00Chargers 24, Giants 0: Second-half open thread
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<figcaption>Donald Miralle</figcaption>
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<p>Giants-Chargers second-half open thread.</p> <p>The New York Giants, desperately needing a victory to stay in the NFC playoff race, are being blown out by the San Diego Chargers. Sunday's halftime score is 17-0, Chargers.</p>
<p>The Chargers took a 7-0 lead with 8:26 left in the first quarter on a 32-yard pass from Philip Rivers to Keenan Allen. That followed Eli Manning's 19th interception of the season, a ball that bounced off the hands of Rueben Randle and was picked by Donald Butler.</p>
<p>The Giants are now the only team in the NFL with a turnover in every game played this season.</p>
<p>For the third straight game the Giants did not score in the first quarter. That ended with San Diego leading, 7-0.</p>
<p>The Chargers extended the lead to 10-0 with 11:05 left in the half when Nick Novak made a 36-yard field goal. Charles James of the Giants gifted San Diego three points as he was offside when Novak missed from 41 yards, giving him a second chance.</p>
<p>San Diego made it 17-0 with 3:54 left in the half on a 3-yard pass from Rivers to Allen. That capped an 11-play, 69-yard drive.</p>
<p>On the following drive Andre Brown coughed up the first fumble of his career and San Diego took over at the Giants' 39-yard line with 2:35 left in the half.</p>
<p>The Chargers took advantage, increasing their lead to 24-0 on a 6-yard pass from Rivers to Danny Woodhead with 24 seconds left in the half.</p>
<p>Rivers torched the Giants for three touchdowns on 16-of-21 passing in the first half.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5189354/chargers-17-giants-0-second-half-open-thread-nfl-schedule-week-14Ed Valentine2013-12-08T15:37:37-05:002013-12-08T15:37:37-05:00Giants at Chargers: Week 14 open thread
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<figcaption>Eli Manning warms up Sunday | Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODA</figcaption>
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<p>Open thread for Sunday's Giants-Chargers game.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego Chargers</a> square off Sunday in California, where it isn't snowing like it did for games in Baltimore and Philadelphia. Use this as your open thread for the meeting of 5-7 teams.</p>
<p id="paragraph3" class="pgh-paragraph"><b>Game Time: </b>4:25 p.m. ET </p>
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<h2><a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/nfl-schedule-2013-week-14-giants-at-chargers" target="_blank">Giants-Chargers Hub Page</a></h2>
<a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/nfl-schedule-2013-week-14-giants-at-chargers"> <img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/24473569/20130909_kdl_al2_262.0_standard_249.0.jpg"></a><span>Everything you need to know about Sunday's Giants-Chargers game.</span>
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<p><b>Location: </b>Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA.</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>FOX</p>
<p><b>Odds:</b> The Giants are 3.5-point underdogs.</p>
<p><b>Giants' inactives:</b> DE Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder), CB Corey Webster (ankle), RB Brandon Jacobs (knee), QB Ryan Nassib, TE Adrien Robinson, LB Allen Bradford, OL Stephen Goodin.</p>
<p><b>Chargers' inactives: </b>QB Brad Sorenson, WR Lavelle Hawkins, DB Crezdon Butler, DB Brandon Taylor, OG Steve Schilling, OT Kenny Wiggins, DT Kwame Geathers.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5188594/giants-at-chargers-2013-week-14-open-threadEd Valentine2013-12-08T14:54:37-05:002013-12-08T14:54:37-05:00Inactives: JPP, Jacobs, Webster won't play
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<figcaption>Brandon Jacobs is inactive Sunday for the Giants | Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>Jason Pierre-Paul, Corey Webster again headline Giants' list of inactives.</p> <p>No real surprises on the inactive list Sunday for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> as they face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a>. We knew on Friday that defensive end <span>Jason Pierre-Paul</span> (shoulder) and cornerback <span>Corey Webster</span> (ankle) had been declared out.</p>
<p>They are joined on today's inactive list by running back <span>Brandon Jacobs</span>, who had been listed as doubtful because of a knee injury, quarterback <span>Ryan Nassib</span>, offensive lineman Stephen Goodin, tight end <span>Adrien Robinson</span> and linebacker <span>Allen Bradford</span>.</p>
<p>Cornerback Trumaine McBride, who missed last week's game vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a> with a groin injury, is active. No word yet on whether McBride or <span>Jayron Hosley</span> will start at cornerback.</p>
<p>With Pierre-Paul, expect to see <span>Damontre Moore</span> get a decent number of snaps this week. He played a season-high 17 last week.</p>
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https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5188064/new-york-giants-inactives-no-surprisesEd Valentine2013-12-08T10:00:04-05:002013-12-08T10:00:04-05:00Giants' notebook: Giants-Chargers gameday links
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<figcaption>Will the Giants be smiling on their return trip from California? | Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>New York Giants' headlines for Sunday, 12/8.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a> play Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. Here is plenty of reading material to keep you informed, and occupied, until kickoff.</p>
<p>This morning we offered <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5180054/giants-at-chargers-2013-game-time-tv-channel-odds-online-streaming">our full preview</a>, with all of the TV, radio, betting and injury information. I made <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5180112/giants-at-chargers-2013-preview-prediction">my weekly prediction </a>for the outcome of today's game. I know many of you will be mad at me, but I'm not here to be a 'homer.' I am here to create discussion, report the news and give you my honest opinion.</p>
<p>Sam offered his weekly '<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/7/5182102/giants-vs-chargers-nfl-sched-2013-week-14-what-to-watch-sunday">Five Things to Watch</a>' post. On Friday, we offered our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/6/5175612/giants-at-chargers-2013-scouting-report-eli-manning-philip-rivers">Giants-Chargers Scouting Report</a>.</p>
<p>John Gennaro of 'Bolts From The Blue' offered insights on the Chargers in our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/6/5181442/giants-at-chargers-five-questions-bolts-from-the-blue">weekly 'Five Questions' segment</a>.</p>
<p>The 2004 Eli Manning-Philip Rivers trade was, of course, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/4/5168342/eli-manning-philip-rivers-2004-trade-new-york-giants-san-diego-chargers">a big topic this week</a>.</p>
<h5>Around the Inter-Google</h5>
<p>Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger <a href="http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2013/12/the_longest_yard_former_giants_gm_relives_the_five_minutes_his_trade_for_eli_manning_was_in_limbo.html">talked at length this week with Ernie Accorsi</a>, the former Giants' GM responsible for the Manning-Rivers trade.</p>
<p>Jordan Ranaan of the Star-Ledger offers <a href="http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2013/12/giants_vs_chargers_bold_predictions.html">five bold predictions for today</a>.</p>
<p>Giants' safety <span>Will Hill</span> says he has <a target="_blank" href="http://nypost.com/2013/12/07/giants-db-hill-has-learned-from-off-the-field-mistakes/">learned from his past off-the-field mistakes</a>.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5187916/giants-chargers-gameday-links-eli-manning-philip-rivers-ernie-accorsi-newsEd Valentine2013-12-08T09:00:04-05:002013-12-08T09:00:04-05:00Giants-Chargers Prediction: The dream will die
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<figcaption>Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Giants travel to San Diego to face the Chargers. Here is my prediction.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> have had a nice run, winning five of six and making themselves -- at least marginally -- relevant in the race for an NFC East. The resiliency shown needs to be applauded, and the fact that they have been able to thus far keep alive the dream of becoming the first NFL to make the playoffs after an 0-6 start has made the season interesting.</p>
<p>The dream, however, will die. The cards are stacked in a very heavy deck against the Giants at this point, their loss two weeks ago making it almost inevitable that they will head home at the end of this month without a playoff berth.</p>
<p>There are scenarios under which <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2013/12/the-giants-weekend-elimination-scenario">the Giants can be eliminated from the playoffs</a> this weekend, the fourth such occurrence for them in the past five seasons.</p>
<p>[<b>Related: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/6/5175612/giants-at-chargers-2013-scouting-report-eli-manning-philip-rivers">Giants-Chargers Scouting Report</a>]</p>
<p>All the Giants need to do to avoid any such scenarios kicking in would be to defeat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a> on Sunday. Unfortunately, I don't think that is going to happen.</p>
<p>The Giants still have not beaten a team this season which has a good quarterback who is playing well. Apologies to <span>Robert Griffin III</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a>, but both he and his team are a shell of the group that won the NFC East a season ago. The Chargers await with <span>Philip Rivers</span> and an explosive offensive cast.</p>
<p>Rivers is, undeniably, playing well. He has a high-powered passing attack featuring in which his two leading receivers are tight end <span>Antonio Gates</span> (64 receptions) and running back <span>Danny Woodhead</span> (61 receptions). Pass-catchers at those two spots have been like Kryptonite to the Giants' defense in recent seasons.</p>
<p>Defensively, the Chargers are a statistically poor group. On paper the Giants should have opportunities to make some plays in the passing game.</p>
<p>There is the small matter of handling the blitz the Giants expect to see from the Chargers on nearly every other play. Nothing about the 31 sacks the Giants have given up and the season-long struggles of the offensive line tells you New York will be up to the challenge of figuring out where blitzers are coming from and handling them.</p>
<p>Even if they do, you have to wonder if all that blitzing -- which leads to 'hot' routes and receivers having to make decisions about which routes to run -- will bring the Giants' propensity to turn the ball over back into play.</p>
<p>Matchups aside, I simply think the Giants have to run out of gas eventually. Every game has been a playoff game for them for a while now. Sooner or later the reality that they are playing for 2014 has to set in.</p>
<p>True, the Chargers have lost four of five -- their only win coming against the suddenly-reeling <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a>. I think, though, that the West Coast trip and the San Diego offense will be too much for the Giants to overcome.</p>
<p>It was a nice dream while it lasted.</p>
<p><i><b>Prediction: Chargers 24, Giants 17</b></i></p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2013/12/8/5180112/giants-at-chargers-2013-preview-predictionEd Valentine