Playoff Preview: NY Giants vs Atlanta Falcons

Jan 8, 2012

The winner of the NFC East, the New York Football Giants, face the wild card Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Jan 8th at Metlife Stadium in Rutherford, NJ at 1pm. These two teams have never met in the playoffs. The Falcons are a “dome” team who are 2-2 in their last outdoor road games. The Giants will be hosting their first playoff game in their new stadium. The last few home playoff games have not gone well. But this is a new season. In the eyes of Giants GM Jerry Reese the team has been “battle tested” by it’s schedule. I agree with Reese to a point. Just because a team has been battle tested does not mean it will be successful. It has to execute.

The Giants will truly be at full strength as TE Jake Ballard will play this afternoon. This will give Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gillbride all the pieces to put players in spots to make plays. The resurging Giants running game must show it’s moxie again. The Falcons defense doesn’t get sacks at the rate of Big Blue’s but they can bring pressure. Former Jet DE John Abraham is the Falcons’ leader in sacks. Sean Weatherspoon and Curtis Lofton are excellent linebackers who will make it difficult to run or hit short passes between the numbers. Therefore the GMen will have to use play action and pass to routes outside of the numbers. It won’t have to be especially long passes but 8-10yd routes should be open.

On the defensive side of the ball, the team is at full strength as well. DE Jason Pierre-Paul and the entire line must do as they did last week against Tony Romo. He was able to slide around the pocket but as he was ready to throw he had to slide again. This causes a breakdown of the protection and communication with receivers. This is a moot point as Atlanta can lean on 1300yd rusher RB Michael Turner, who at 5 foot 10 inches and 244lbs, can be a human wrecking ball to an opposing defense. Even if the Giants can force 3rd and long situations, the Falcons are more than capable of converting. Future Hall of Famer TE Tony Gonzalez, rookie sensation WR Julio Jones, and top flight WR Roddy White are big targets for QB Matt Ryan to throw to.

It’s the playoffs. It’s the best against the best. A field goal will seperate these two teams in the end. Giants 23 Falcons 20.