Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants NFL preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars surge into the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday 28 November, to face a New York Giants team that is coming off consecutive losses. The 6-4 Giants will be seeking to right their
ship after falling to Dallas and Philadelphia in consecutive games.
The main issue for Giants coach Tom Coughlin has been New York’s turnovers, an NFL-worst 30 times.
"The number one consideration is to try to stop beating ourselves," Coughlin said. "That's one area we should be able to improve. It's very frustrating not to improve in that area." As a result, running
back Ahmad Bradshaw has been relegated to backup status, after losing his fifth fumble of the season during last week’s match-up.
Bruising back Brandon Jacobs will take over the starting duties, though it is expected the two players will split carries throughout the game. Jacobs is tied for the team lead with five rushing touchdowns,
even though he has yet to top 12 carries in a single game.
In speaking to the Giants official website, Jacobs revealed, “I want to be able to go out there and set our team off, set the stadium off, and have a good mixture going to the game that nobody can stop
us. That's really how it's supposed to be. Teams should not be able to stop us from running the football. I don't give a d**n who they are."
The Giants will be without two of their top wide receivers, as both Steve Smith (torn pectoral muscle) and playmaker Hakeem Nicks (compartment syndrome in his right leg) have been ruled out. The Giants
went out this week and signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneer wide receiver Michael Clayton, who is expected to be in uniform for Sunday’s game.
Furthermore, rookie Derek Hagan will play in his second game as a Giant. He had three receptions for 10 yards and a touchdown in last week’s match-up. The Giants will also have Mario Manningham, who is
their only remaining active wide receiver from the opening day lineup.
The Jaguars are coming off a big 24-20 win against the Cleveland Browns. Jacksonville, winners of three straight, are tied with the Indianapolis Colts atop the AFC South division. Jaguars coach Jack Del
Rio is excited to play the Giants after his team’s recent run, and emphasized “This game is huge,” on the team’s official website.
The game will be a good test for Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. While discussing the Giants’ defense, Jones-Drew said, “We're going up against some great run-defenses. It's a great challenge
and we're up for it.”
The AFC’s third-leading rusher is coming off a huge performance, having amassed 220 total yards from scrimmage last week. Those numbers will be hard to repeat, as the Giants are only allowing 89.5 rushing
yards per game, which is fourth-fewest in the NFL.
The Jaguars may be without their top wide receiver, as Michael Sims-Walker is uncertain to play after missing last week’s game with a sprained-left ankle.
Jaguars quarterback David Garrard, who has been hot as of late, refused to make any excuses. "Guys are banged up, but everybody's banged up. We're going to have to count on whoever's out there ready to
make plays and I'm not going to see anybody any different."
Kickoff is at 1:00 ET, and conditions are expected to be sunny and 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
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