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SupremeCommander
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TMS has been screamin about this With New Orleans Saints on tap Sunday, New York Giants eager to face tougher schedule
BY Ralph Vacchiano
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Tuesday, October 13th 2009, 4:00 AM
Sabo/News
New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw runs wild against the Oakland Raiders, but will the same holes be there Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Take our PollBiggest Blue: Week 5
Who was the hero of the Giants' thrashing of Oakland Sunday?
Eli Manning
Ahmad Bradshaw
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The Giants easily ran through the early part of their schedule, stomping on every opponent the NFL put in their way. They did what good teams are supposed to do.
Now they get to find out how good they really are.
And the Giants can't wait, because they know they'll take a huge step up in class this week as they get ready for their showdown with the undefeated Saints in New Orleans. Giants (5-0) vs. Saints (4-0) on Sunday is the early "Game of the Year" in the NFC. It's certainly more of a challenge than the last three weeks, when the Giants steamrolled the Raiders (1-4), Chiefs (0-5) and Bucs (0-5).
"It is going to be a real big test for us," said linebacker Antonio Pierce. "Obviously we took care of business with the first five games. (This week) it's going to be one of obviously our biggest challenges so far."
That is the understatement of the year. Their 44-7 win over the woeful Oakland Raiders on Sunday was just the latest in a three-game romp over teams with a combined 1-14 record. To the Giants' credit, they outscored those creampuffs 95-23 and out-gained them 1,309 yards to 403.
But look who's coming next: The Giants - who boast the NFL's No. 1 defense thanks, at least in part, to a string of awful offenses - don't face another team that currently has a losing record until Dec. 21 (at Washington, 2-3). The combined record of their final 11 opponents this season is 33-15, which gives those teams fewer losses than the Giants' first six opponents (6-19). And the Giants still have to face three of the NFL's other four unbeaten teams, all on the road (at 4-0 New Orleans, at 5-0 Denver, at 5-0 Minnesota).
The biggest test, though, comes first against a team that leads the NFL with 144 points despite playing only four games so far. Led by quarterback Drew Brees (1,031 yards, nine touchdowns) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (18 catches, 162 yards, two touchdowns) the Saints are ranked third in total offense and seventh in defense and have outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter 45-2.
"We know they are very talented," said quarterback Eli Manning, a New Orleans product who'll be playing his first-ever game in the Superdome. "(But) we know they are very talented. Their offense is very explosive. They score a lot of points."
Heel feeling 'good,' Eli set for full speed
Eli Manning said his right heel felt "good" when he woke up yesterday morning. "I'm able to move around and I didn't have a setback by any means," he said. The Giants are expecting him to be able to practice all week. ... TE Kevin Boss (ankle) will be reevaluated today before the Giants determine his status for this week. ... LB Bryan Kehl (finger) is expected to return to practice, but CB Aaron Ross (hamstring) and DT Chris Canty (calf) remain out. ... S C.C. Brown is OK, according to Tom Coughlin, after hurting his shoulder on Sunday.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/index.html DLeethal wrote:
Lol Rick needs a safe space
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10/18/2009 1:45 PM