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6'6" 253 TE
Kevin Boss can catch
Photo by Jim
McIsaac-Getty
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6'5" 232 Plaxico's
back
Photo-Al
Bello-Getty
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After
a careful review of the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Bucs season
statistics,
I've decided that this is a game between two teams so closely matched
in
performance and numbers that it really can't be decided or predicted in
that
manner. The game will be decided on emotion. And
timing.
Whose time is it? I think it'll be the Giants time.
Reason
might actually favor the Bucs. Their quarterback, Jeff Garcia,
has been “there”
before, as has their formidable wide receiver Joey Galloway.
Their
defensive stud, Derrick Brooks, likewise has played and won some big
games. Jon Gruden, their exuberant coach with the Chucky-face,
has been
to the Super Bowl and won. Experience in
big games favors the Bucs, especially winning experiences.
And,
speaking of reason, the numbers also would seem to slightly favor the
Buccaneers. You can throw out the Giants
first two games and the Bucs last two games. The Giants struggled
mightily in
those first two games learning their new defensive roles while the Bucs
played
subs in their last two games. In the other 14 games, the Giants
outscored the
Bucs 325 to 292 points, but allowed 271 points to the Bucs 218, a wider
disparity in points allowed than points scored, in favor of the Bucs.
On the
entire season, the Giants defense ranks seventh overall while the Bucs
rank
second. The Giants are more balanced
though, ranking 8th against the rush and eleventh against
the pass,
and that includes the horrors against Tony Romo and Bret Favre.
A
look at common opponents also favors the Bucs. Against
the Redskins, the Giants won at Washington and
lost at home while the Bucs
beat the Skins 19-13 at home. As for
losses vs. playoff teams, the Bucs lost at Seattle
in the first week of the season, 20-6, lost at Indianapolis
33-14, and lost at home to Jacksonville
24-23. The Giants lost twice to Dallas, but in
the second
game lost respectably 31-20 at home. They
lost to the Skins as discussed, a loss in a
week late in the season
while they were coasting a bit. They lost to Green Bay, but once again, that was
in Week 2
when their defense had not yet solidified. The G-Men played their best
game of
the season last week against the All-Everything New England Patriots
but still
lost 38-35. While the Bucs performance
against the tough Jaguars is impressive, the most notable statistic
here is
that Pats game, and it may work to the Giants’ advantage that they lost.
The
Giants have more players who will be hungry. Look
at the cast of characters. Eli Manning has
been ridden all season for his
completion percentage,
his turnovers, his decisions under pressure, and on and on. Brandon Jacobs has been living under Tiki’s
shadow all year. Plaxico Burress has
been hurt all year, his ankle, and yet played in every game, most of
the time
drawing two defenders despite his handicaps. The
offensive line is a veteran group that gets
little respect.
On
defense, the great Michael Strahan has never won a Super Bowl. Antonio Pierce has had a great year. They’ve played well against the run
especially. Even more significant may be
that their veteran coach, Tom Coughlin, has never won a playoff game. He may be the hungriest of all.
Of the two teams, the Giants have more
experienced players and more players who have been frustrated for much
of their
careers.
Although Tampa Bay
can boast the best pass defense in
the NFL, they rank only 17th against the rush.
The Giants should be able to push the ball up
the field. Eli Manning proved against
the Patriots that he can play the dink and dunk game as well as throw
the long
pass. Both his wideouts are experienced,
talented and motivated. The Bucs have
nobody to match the 6’5” Plaxico for sheer size. Amani
Toomer gets open and, despite some
periods of lost concentration, is a reliable possession receiver. The wildcard may be Kevin Boss, the 6’6” 253
pound tight end who filled in admirably for Jeremy Shockey last week
against
the Pats with four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
That’s two huge receivers who’ll be hard to cover
(even when they’re “covered”).
While
the Giants have gone to sleep in several games this year, against the
Vikings
for sure, they have also shown themselves to be a team that can seize a
real
opportunity. But for a very unfortunate
injury to Sam Madison and a subsequent blown coverage, they could and
should have
beaten the Patriots. And what bigger
opportunity is there than to advance in the playoffs !
They
will surely recognize that if they could pressure Tom Brady, with his
great
offensive line and All-World receivers, surely they can pressure Jeff
Garcia,
with only one really big-play wideout and a somewhat suspect offensive
line. Consider that Garcia has beaten
them in the playoffs twice already. Surely
they have seen those tapes.
The
Giants have been strong vs. the run all year. While
the Bucs’ Earnest Graham can run the ball, I
don’t think he can
crack that defensive unit of the Giants. Garcia
will be forced to throw early and often. The
Bucs Galloway is coming off an injury and
is no Randy Moss. Ike Hilliard isn’t Wes
Welker. The tight ends of the Bucs are
not a formidable group. Yes indeed, the
Giants will concentrate on stopping the run. Then
they’ll stop the pass.
Offensively,
the Boys in Blue will try to run the ball down the throats of the Bucs. But they’re capable of surprising the Bucs
defense at any time. They’ll continue to
throw to Jacobs out of the backfield. They’ll
continue to use that huge tight end Boss as
still another
alternative.
And
then there’s momentum. At the expense of
hurting some big guns, they played hard in Week 17.
They’ll be right on schedule for Week
18. The Bucs won’t. They
took a couple of weeks off. It’ll show on
Sunday. Giants 34-20.
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