Regular Season: Giants Lead Series 73-38-2
Approach to the Game – Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants, November 28, 1999: Games don’t get any bigger than this. If the Giants lose this one, they can basically kiss off any chance at making the playoffs. The Giants need to go 5-1 or 4-2 down the stretch. They have proven the last two years that they are capable of doing that, but they can’t think in those terms. Focus on the Cardinals. Worry about the other teams later. If the Giants do that and play inspired, competitive football and concentrate on one opponent at a time, everything else will sort itself out.
The Giants can do it! Now, let’s get it done!
Giants on Offense: One gets the sense that the Giants’ quarterback carousel of the last three years is about to finally end. Dave Brown to Danny Kanell to Kent Graham. None of these guys had it. QB Kerry Collins has the arm, accuracy, quick release, and competitive desire that one looks for. He still is a work in progress as he is still straightening out his mechanics, rebuilding his confidence, and learning the offense. But if the Giants are going to make a playoff push, offensively it will have to come on his right arm and the legs of Tiki Barber.
Collins did not play very well in his last and only start – ironically against these very same Cardinals. Supposedly, he’s a different quarterback now. Back in October, he looked somewhat confused, indecisive, and jumpy in the pocket. Kerry did not look like that against the Redskins so let’s hope that continues. Of course, the ultimate goal is to put points on the board. If Kerry can lead the offense in a way that puts 20+ points on the board, the Giants will be successful.
The receivers no longer have any excuses. They have a good quarterback in there who can get the ball to them. Make plays – big ones. It’s long since time. WR Ike Hilliard will probably be locked up against CB Aeneas Williams. Aeneas is one of the very best in the business, but Ike was the 7th pick in the draft and it is time for him to deliver against top flight competition. He should be able to do some damage in the intermediate range with wide receivers Amani Toomer and David Patten driving defenders off deep. Toomer faces Tom Knight – that’s a match-up that Toomer should win. No excuses. Look for Patten to play a big role against the nickel cornerback. Underneath, when the Giants need a big third down conversion or no one is open, dump the ball off to Pete Mitchell. With Collins throwing the ball, and Hilliard, Toomer, Patten, and Mitchell catching it, the Giants should be able to finally move the ball on a consistent basis.
HB Joe Montgomery has been practicing this week and may play. But the guy who has to lead the Giants to the promised land is Tiki Barber – both as a runner and receiver. No sense protecting him from wear and tear now. There are only six games left and each game is critical. Tiki has become the playmaker the Giants envisioned when they drafted him. Get the ball in his hands as much as possible. If he needs a breather, I would bring in Montgomery or Sean Bennett. LeShon Johnson is simply not getting it done.
The offensive line has to get its act together now too. These guys should realize that they are not only fighting for their team’s future, but their own professional future. There were whispers in the press this week that Luke Petitgout may find his way back into the line-up if LT Roman Oben continues to struggle. DE Simeon Rice gave Oben fits the last time they played, but Roman has a good history against Rice otherwise. That is obviously a key match-up. Keeping DT Eric Swann at bay is important too. Normally, Swann plays over the right guard. RG Ron Stone has historically done a good job against him. Thus, the Cards may move Swann over rookie LG Mike Rosenthal. OC Brian Williams will most likely be forced to help out. The other defensive tackle is Rashod Swinger. The Giants simply must handle him with one blocker. Luckily for RT Scott Gragg, DE Andre Wadsworth is out. He needs to dominate DE Brad Ottis.
The Cards’ linebackers are active, but they can be run on. MLB Ronald McKinnon and SLB Rob Fredrickson have a ton of tackles, but they are not real strong at the point of attack. They can run sidelines to sidelines however. Grind the ball at them. The Cards are also missing their normal starter on the weakside – Zack Walz. His replacement, Patrick Sapp, is a journeyman.
Giants on Defense: Dave Brown starts for the Cardinals, but Jake Plummer will most likely make an appearance since Brown is ailing and has struggled a bit. Regardless, the first key is to shut down the run. The Cardinals no doubt will try to emulate what the Redskins did last week. HB Adrian Murrell is very capable of taking over a game. It is up to the defensive line and linebackers to shut him down and make Arizona one-dimensional. DE Cedric Jones faces rookie LT L.J. Shelton. There is no reason why Cedric should not dominate this match-up. Same with DE Michael Strahan versus RT Anthony Clement. DT Christian Peter faces journeyman RG Lester Holmes and DT Keith Hamilton will battle it out against LG Chris Dishman. The Giants should, and must, dominate the line of scrimmage. It’s time for Strahan to get his head out of his ass and make some big plays. Same with Cedric.
The linebackers need to rebound this week too. Jessie Armstead should have a lot of frustration to release after being criticized for his comments about the offense after last week’s loss. I look for him to have a big game. MLB Corey Widmer and SLB Ryan Phillips need to make a positive impact. The Cards like to throw to their halfbacks (Murrell and Pittman) and tight ends (Terry Hardy). Coverage as well as run defense will be important. Don’t allow Dave Brown or Jake Plummer to get into a rhythm. With nickel backer Marcus Buckley (leg/concussion) ailing, I would think we might see a lot of Scott Galyon – a guy I like a lot – this week.
The Cards’ receivers usually give the Giants fits. CB Jason Sehorn and CB Phillippi Sparks will face tough tests in WR Rob Moore and WR Frank Sanders, respectively. A huge match-up will be WR David Boston (who killed the Giants back in October) versus the nickel back – be it Jeremy Lincoln or Emmanuel McDaniel. The Giants need to get after the quarterback in order to prevent Arizona from really exploiting this mismatch. Ball-hawking Percy Ellsworth and hard-hitting Sam Garnes can also have an impact here.
Giants on Special Teams: The Giants have to win this battle. With KR Bashir Levingston (concussion) out, David Patten has a chance to make some plays here too. Tiki Barber is having a good year returning punts and may break one if his blockers give him some room to operate. Cards’ PR Mac Cody is dangerous as is KR Mario Bates. Downfield coverage will be key and the Giants may activate S Tre Thomas and/or LB O.J. Childress from the practice squad to help out.