New York @ Carolina
The Giants are in a difficult spot this week. They haven’t looked particularly sharp in their first two games, falling to Dallas on Opening Night and barely escaping Sunday’s encounter with Tampa Bay with a win. New York now heads into Carolina playing inconsistently on the field and dealing a with a large number of injury issues; Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, David Diehl, Domenik Hixon, and Adewale Ojomo will as miss tonight’s game.
Carolina stumbled out of the gates in Week 1, but bounced back with an impressive victory over the division-rival Saints. Cam Newton’s performance benefited from some stronger playcalling that led to a more balanced offense. The second-year quarterback should be able to take advantage of a New York secondary that has been torched by Tony Romo and Josh Freeman in the first two weeks of the season.
I love Carolina in this game. The fact that they’re playing at home and playing well against a team that has struggled and will be missing a handful of key starters puts them in a great position to move to 2-1 and make a statement about their playoff chances this year.
Pick: Carolina
I don’t think either of these teams make the playoffs.
I like the Panthers over the Giants in this game with all the Injuries on the Giants and playing these Thursday Games as a Road Team really puts any Visiting Team in a tough spot with very short preparation time
I also like the fact that Panthers DC S MCDermott knows the GIants System very well and is familiar with their schemes while this will be the GIants 1st Time facing Cam Newton and the new look Panther Offense
(Giants will miss RB A Bradshaw and especially OT D Diehl who is probably their best OL on a very shaky unit)
Panthers 27 – Giants 24
Man I hate Eli. Carolina is junk right now
McDermitt is terrible. lol. He sat back in that 2 deep zone all night knowing he had no pass rush. One thing if Im the Giants I would never ever spend any money ob RB or WR as long as I have Eli. Its all about the QB. Steve Smith, Cruz, Nicks etc. The next man up looks just like the last man down. Its the system and QB and getting a chance. Why do you think Steve Smith had 100 catches and is garbage on other teams. Victor Cruz? Nicks? Its all Eli.
Unbelievably a poor performance by the Panthers on both sides of the Ball,
That fake dive,drop back and pass does not work against a front-4 of the Giants Caliber who are strictly coming in after the QB as that play is way too slow in developing.. Eagles should have a field day against CM if they try that same play.
Defensively by the Panthers.. Anyone also recognize the terrible job by MCDermott.. LB’s 6 yards off the Line of Scrimmage, Safeties 15-18 Yards back, No Pass Rush, NO Blitzing, Unable to stop the TE’s.. It looked like the Eagles Defense’s of 2009 & 2010. Rumblings in Charlotte that MCDermott is on very thin ice as he should be… That was a pitiful performance by them
which is why I think the Eagles Could Trade DE Darryl Tapp or even a Brandon Graham and get a Decent Draft Pick in Return since the Eagles have 6 Quality DE’s already and can’t play them all..
Brandon Graham’s contract is untradeable — he is owed 6 million more guaranteed and the only reason he is on the team is because the dingbats in the front office gave him a 6 year contract with 5.5 years guaranteed —- his arms are too small in length to play in the NFL and cannot stop the run. You should be furious after watching Pierre Paul play
Paulman, I’m making a killing wagering the opposite of your picks.
Panthers fan must have been excited last night watching their franchise sitting there with the towl over his head.
Was a great look.
Bang on Daggolden. – Toss in tight ends and mini-man white guys going bezerk in NE. (Drop Chad Hall on the Pats and he’s 50 catches for 700.)
You were right on one thing Paulman, the Thursday games are won an inordianate % of times by the home team. I think Carolina is just really bad.
On another note…good to see the Giants get those extra 3 days to rest/heal before the Eagles matchup next week….meanwhile Eagles traveling back from a late west coast game Sunday…..
Still….nice matchup next week for 1st place.
Panthers stink. They will finish last in their division.
Vinnie no doubt the Giants will be tough next week with all the rest they will get. I’m just hoping we get to the bye at at least 4-2. If we do that I think we will be fine. This Cards game could have huge implications come week 17 if we are in a wild card battle. THey have an easier schedule to load up on some more wins down the road.
Im not afraid of the Giants at all.I dont care what they did last night. Eli will not have that kinda time back there next week. And as far as the panthers go…… soft zone, soft zone, soft zone… the Giants wont find that here. “you can crown em if you want to but”- they are who i think they are.