Giants Football Gameday!

Gee, any acrimony towards the Cowboys, NFL, and Ezekiel Elliott before the kickoff? Makes tonight's game a real barn shaker doesn't it?

For the third straight season the New Jersey Giants will start in Dallas in Goblin King Jerry Jones' palace (seen here in a file photo).

Really, it's all in front of the Giants tonight. Both of these teams are solid playoff teams, double digit wins kind of teams. Chance to make a statement, like the courts did. It seems someone will find a way for Ezekiel Elliott to play no matter what the NFL says or how big of a piece of crap Elliott allegedly is. He's just going to play by the grace of the court system and Odell Beckham Jr. is questionable as he was nicked in the first preseason game vs Cleveland. Now that we have the cast set, let's see how the pieces on the board look vs one another.

The Giants have had the upper hand on the Cowboys recently and they haven't had to run to do it. Eli Manning has proved a smart QB, who spreads the ball around and does have two or three receiving threats can keep the Dallas Eleven looking like the Eagles on any given Sunday. The possibility of no Beckham hurts but the Giants are more than prepared with Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram running through and around a questionable-at-best Cowboys secondary. Johnny actually thinks if the Giants are going to have a breakout running attack it might be tonight. Eli should keep Dallas off balance throwing which should allow the Giants O-line enough smashmouth opportunities to have an impact. We like the Giants to put up at least 24 tonight.

Dallas has a great offensive line which allowed rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott time to blossom and become superstars. They're the belles of the ball and the cat's meow.

So it's baaaaad for them the Giants defensive line ranks among the best in the NFL and has been able to handle the vaunted Dallas line the last few meetings. The G-Men don't have to be perfect on every play but if they uphold last year's second best in the points against category they should be able to contain the Dallas attack.

It's also bad there's something known as the sophomore slump. Johnny's not saying it will hit them both, or one or the other. He just knows sophomore slump is a thing and second year stars do have them.

So, big game already, tie breakers and all later on do matter. A win today is almost worth two. National teevee, last game of the day. Swimming pools, movie stars. Johnny can't wait.

Jersey City Desk Fearless Forecast
New Jersey Giants 30
Dallass Cowboys 20

Giants football GAMEDAY Playoff Edition!

The temperature in Green Bay this morning is 0º. By the 4pm gametime it will be hovering around 13º with a wind chill of 4º. It's going to be a classic Lambeau Field freeze-fest.

In the Packers past history of the Bart Starr's and Brett Favre's playing in Lambeau Field, rarely if ever did the Green Bay Packers lose playoff games at home. Rarely if ever. Then the Falcons did it. Then the Giants and suddenly Lambeau wasn't a great bastion of security for the Packers in the cold.

Which brings us to today.

So goes Aaron Rodgers so go the Packers. The Giants learned this earlier this year and well, heck, everyone knows if Rodgers can run around and, keep plays alive, put pressure on DB's, and make amazing throws off-balance or hail mary's, he's devastating. If you can keep Rodgers bottled up in the pocket, well then, things change dramatically. The Giants have one of the few defensive lines with smart linebackers behind them who have gotten the G-men to 10 wins this year by not chasing plays and not making bonehead decisions, and that can contain Rodgers. The Packers are a team that even when the run isn't going well will stick with it to make hay later when the other team tires. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy knows what he wants to do and doesn't stray much from his gameplans, any changes will be made by Rodgers at the line of scrimmage. The Giants must stop the Green Bay run. They must also always know where the Packer's running backs coming out of the backfield are. Force Rodgers to hit big plays, contain and stop the shorties. RB's in the flats, and don't get killed by the Green Bay tight ends 7 yards over the middle. Lots of nickel today so again, the run has to be stopped by the front four. Contain and slow down the Packers. Sure they'll get yards and score but contain the damage, don't let a possible early 10-0 deficit turn into a 24-7 halftime debacle. Containment. Contest every inch and never stop working. The Packers win games late, the Giants have to build a lead.

Offensively, well the key to playoff success has long been running the football but since the Giants finished 29th in the league rushing either a miracle needs to happen or Eli has to put up about 24 points throwing the ball. Hey, would you look at that, Green Bay was 31st against the pass this year. That sure helps. Can the Giants get enough running to keep the Packers defense honest or do they have to go pass-heavy and this could possibly turn into an unexpected shootout? Johnny's guess is shootout. One team will get a lead and the other will give up running. The Giants wideouts give them a big advantage over the Packers really just having Jordy Nelson. Beckham and Cruz must have big games and feed off of each other. When the Giants hit big plays an aura comes over them and they, more than most teams, seem to really get on a roll. They'll need that aura a few times today.

These teams know each other and know what to expect. It'll come down to hard work, smart football and attention to detail. It'll be close is Johnny's best guess.

Fearless Forecast:
New Jersey Giants 23
Green Bay Packers 21

Giants football GAMEDAY!

The playoffs grow closer and boy howdy do the New Jersey Giants have a BIG game with the Lions from Johnny's hometown of Detroit in the rain today at  the new Meadowlands. Not often the Lions get out this way. Even less often leading a division by two games with three to play. The Lions last division title was back in 1993 when Scott Mitchell, Herman Moore, Barry Sanders and Johnny Morton led the Lions. Most Lions fans Johnny knows are expecting them to crash out and lose to the G-Men, Cowboys, and Packers at the end of the year and blow it. Somewhat new ground for the Motor City Kitties as they come east.

First off, if you had both the Lions and Giants and 9-4 when they played this game at the beginning of the year raise your hand.

Liarhead.

So, in the rain can the Lions running game, resurgent of late, move the ball on the ground and take pressure off Matthew Stafford's injured throwing hand? Despite what the Lions say it IS a big deal. The Bears only had a chance last week because Stafford got picked twice on throws into the flat that had nothing on them. With a wet ball can Stafford distribute it around like he wants and needs to, to the Lions better than average wideouts. There's your ballgame. Can the Giants force the Lions to pass. While neither team tears up the league in offense, (the Lions are 21st and the Giants at 27) both teams do hold onto the ball. Giants average 27 minutes a game while the Lions check in at just over 30 minutes a game with the football. Both QB's will take their shots downfield but a more conservative gameplan will be the order of the day in the rain.

This game will have a playoff feel to it no doubt. Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives, the Giants to keep pace with everyone in the NFC East and the Lions to keep ahead of Green Bay and realizing no wildcards are coming out of the NFC North. It should be a conservative game for the most part and yes, wet weather can make a quick hash out of a prediction. That being said this game smells like one played with a score in the teens or low 20's. If that's the case, and with the Lions seeming invincibility late when they need it AND the fact Matt Prater is the kind of kicker who can make long field goals when needed, here we go...

Fearless Forecast
Detroit Lions 19
New Jersey Giants 17

Giants football GAMEDAY!

So, is the Giants game today on the shores of Lake Erie at the Factory of Sadness vs the 0-11 Browns a tasty helping of Thanksgiving leftovers or a hand grenade disguised as a piece of pumpkin pie? Sure that 0-11 Browns record looks like a tasty meal, at home or on the road, the Browns are inept everywhere. However, only two NFL teams have gone winless in the Super Bowl-era. Actually, before their loss to the Steelers a week back some computer sports group put out odds the Browns only had a 20% chance to lose ALL their games. This seems to be telling us that yes, indeed, there is a hand grenade aspect to today's game. If the Giants lose to an 0-11 team in basically what should be a free win, one wonders how that plays out over the past month of the season. Does everything go into the toilet?

Relax, Johnny's been a Browns fan forever and you Big Blue fans have nothing to worry about. Do you have serviceable, ne, good wideouts? Well then Eli Manning should carve up a suspect Browns secondary like cake. The Browns offer little to no pass rush, Eli should have all day to make things look good on the offensive side of the ball. The Browns can't stop the run either so make sure to throw some ball control in there too. Defensively the Giants will be going up against one of many Browns QB's; Is RGIII back? McCown? Kessler? Kosar? While they can't run the Browns can pass a little and have two actual NFL-caliber guys who catch what gets thrown, Pro Bowl TE Gary Barnidge and breakout former OSU QB Terrell Pryor. Pryor is a big target and strong, capable of breaking tackles. This IS predicated on the idea the Browns QB's have any time to throw the ball. Why do the Browns start so many quarterbacks? They all get ground up by the opposing pass rush. The Giants front four should have a field day.

Yeah, not too much to worry about today G-Men fans, unless they start fumbling the ball, Eli decides to play blindfolded, they drop punts or get lost before the game and head over to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fearless Forecast:
New Jersey Giants 31
Cleveland Browns 13

Jets and Giants football Gameday!

What a day it is out there football fans, the first true fall-feeling afternoon on tap for two big games for the New Jersey-based NFL ballclubs.

First the Giants are at the New Meadlowlands at 1pm to take on arch-rival and division foe, Washington with their 0-2 record. Thus far, well, they're a mess. Last year's breakout QB Kirk Cousins isn't having a "You like that!" kind of season.

First off the Skins cannot run the ball. They average an abysmal 68 yards a game so far. Big Blue should be able to use this to an extreme advantage and get after the pocket-passing Cousins. The Redskins CAN pass, Cousins is capable of throwing for 300 yards but the New Jersey defense has to make those "trying to play catchup" yards.

Now let's get back to where the real fun might pop up, Odell Beckham Jr. and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman and their ongoing grudge. Let's look back at last year when Gordon was with Carolina shall we? (Tom Coughlin sighting)

So, with all the extra-curriculars that might go on with age-old rivals today could be a knock-down drag out fight where the Redskins pull the GMen into the deep water of the 4th quarter but Johnny doesn't get that feel today.

Fearless Forecast

New Jersey Giants 31

Washington Redskin Potatoes 21

Now, off to the J-E-T-S- Jets Jets Jets game out in Kansas City at 4:30pm, Wilbert Harrison won't you set the mood:

Ah, Kansas City, you never know what the hell to expect from the Chiefs at home do you? Could be an all-time performance with great screaming fans or they could easily lay an egg. Johnny thinks betting on games in Chiefs-land are a fools errand. Let's go to the tape:

Pretty simple today Jets fans, run the ball. The Chiefs have a fairly well balanced offensive attack with passing being better but on defense they allow a lot of yards on the ground, a Jets forte'. This should help cover for the hideous Jets pass defense if they can keep the Chiefy Wiefies offense off the field. If this game were being played in New Jersey Johnny would have no trouble going with the Jets. This one is tricker and road games in the NFL are notoriously difficult. Coin toss time.

Fearless Forecast
New Jersey Jets 23
Kansas City Chiefs 20 OT

Giants football GAMEDAY!

Hey, if the Jets have the discourtesy to play of Thursday fuck 'em, they'll get no Sunday write-up.

Points ahoy matey! The Giants and Drew Brees and the Saints are gonna pout some points on the scoreboard at the New Meadowlands. Dr. Johnny is going to tell you how and why he thinks the Giants air show could be more effective. Eli Manning doesn't seem to need to throw for 350-400 yards to get two or three passing TD's a game. For all of his brilliance, Brees does seem to need to get that many yards to get the same amount of TD's. The Giants can shorten the game with deep aerial success which after watching the Saints play the Raiders he thinks the G-Men can pass deep, kick off, and make Brees go 80 yards. Run the ball at least 100 yards and that'll also shorten and choke off the Saints offense. The Raiders ran well last week in New Orleans.

Yes, lots of points but if the Giants are smart and hit on their best chances and have their defense become enough of a breastwork (it's not dirty) to slow the Saints and claim a victory and move to 2-0 and depending on what the Sheagals do with the Bears tomorrow night hight atop the NFC East.

Fearless Forecast
New Jersey Giants 34
N'awlins Saints 28

Jets and Giants football Gameday!

Two teams, one gameday thread, can't beat that when Johnny is feeling like a lazy bastard.

By rights and a lots of metrics the Giants should do well today. They have decided advantages at a couple of key positions, not the least of which is quarterback. Eli Manning is better than Grizzly Fitzpatrick, he just is. So why is Johnny leaning Mean Green on this one tight now?

The Jets we have a feeling are going to be able to run today. They're going to have to which means if Johnny knows it the Giants sure do and still the Jets are gonna be able to control the tempo of the game on the ground is Johnny's guess. The Jets average over 100 yards on the ground a game and we see nothing in Big Blue's resume this year that says that won't continue. We also don't think the Giants are going to be able to run, not that they ever seem to make it a priority. Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. will have to have strong days and stretch the field vertically and with no Darrell Revis in the Jets secondary there's no excuse not to. Eli seems to play better against teams outside the division if you ask us.

Again, there are a lot of reasons the Giants could and should win, this game has BIG playoff implications for both teams, ie a December gut-check. The Jets running game though, it'll open enough balls for Brandon Marshall for the Jets to pull off a close win.

Fearless Forecast:
J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets 23
NJ Giants 21


Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (file photo)