Giants vs. Colts should measure up to pregame hype

By Samuel Groshans  |   Monday, September 04, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

New York Giants
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Preseason hype is on the verge of turning into regular-season reality for the New York Giants. The G-men, who wrapped up a perfect preseason against the New England Patriots on Aug. 31, are anxious to get started. More than one player on the roster is voicing his opinion, and many of the sentiments echo the fans: "This is our year." While no one has come out with quite that bold of a statement, it's obvious the Giants feel that they have a strong chance of winning it all.

That confidence may not be completely unfounded. While the preseason is, generally, nothing more than a fine-tuning session, the last time New York went 4-0 in its exhibition schedule was in 1990. That year is significant because it's also the last time the Giants won a Super Bowl.

The scariest part about that is the talent this year's team has may actually be better than the victorious team of '90. The '90 team was based strongly on its defense, relying heavily on a very intimidating corps of linemen and linebackers. While that team could score when needed -- the Giants won 31-3 over the Chicago Bears in the divisional playoffs -- the Super Bowl was decided on a missed field goal by Buffalo's Scott Norwood.

This year's team, however, has an offense and defense worth fearing.

With just a week left before the season opener, the regular starters who've been out (Luke Petitgout, Shaun O'Hara and LaVar Arrington, to name three) have been telling reporters they're fully healed and ready to go. Arrington even went so far as to let people know that his current absences have been strictly precautionary, not due to an injury.

Speaking of the opener, it's going to be a heck of a show one way or the other. The Colts are coming to the Meadowlands and the game will immediately be used as a barometer of the Giants' talent, regardless of what happens in the following two or three weeks.

If the Giants lose heavily to the Colts, they'll most likely be viewed as an overhyped, underachieving team. If they win big, however, people may finally secure a seat on the bandwagon. If it's close one way or another -- win or lose-- opinions will probably lean more toward the "overhyped" category for New York.

Most of the spotlight in this game will obviously shine on the shoulders of the brothers Manning. The Colts' Peyton, the elder, is used to such pressure, so he probably won't be shaken up at all. His little brother Eli, on the other hand, will be scrutinized as to how he reacts to said pressure. Eli has performed well in stressful situations, as proven in his many comeback-to-win drives, but this is a whole new dimension.

Many experts believe that either the Seattle Seahawks or Carolina Panthers will be the cream of the crop in the NFC. However, because of the talent on both the Colts and Giants, and because they are both seemingly good enough to make it to the Super Bowl, there will be a magnifying glass over every facet of this football game. Unfortunately, due to the blood that flows in Eli's veins, that magnifying glass will be twice as big for him. Watch for some nerves early in the game, but those butterflies should quickly dissipate.

The rest of the offense will be directly affected by how Eli performs, as well. If he isn't confident and is making mistakes, the rest of the offense will suffer. With the pressure that will most definitely be shoveled onto the rest of the offensive unit, it may be the entire squad that stumbles out of the gate. The Giants haven't appeared to be shaken by much over the past year, but the game with the most pressure last season was a playoff game against the Carolina Panthers. As football fans can likely recall, the Giants imploded on that January day, losing 23-0.

When all is said and done concerning the pressure put on the Giants' offense, it won't be surprising to see the unit struggle early. If the group stumbles too long, however, watch for there to be a chaotic catch-up game. There shouldn't be any more than a one or two-drive stumble, though, and it's expected that the Giants will march up and down the field more than once.

The defense may have even more to prove than the offense. Yes, it's only the first game of the season, but everyone and their brother knows the Giants will be measured by how they contend against a team that perennially wins 12 or more games. With a revamped, more talented defense going against an offense that is missing only one major piece from last year (Edgerrin James), there is a great deal of skepticism when looking at the game.

Will second-year cornerback Corey Webster be able to stand up to future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, Brandon Stokley or Reggie Wayne? Will undersized safety Gibril Wilson be able to take on tight end Dallas Clark? Has Michael Strahan lost a step? Can the Giants' front seven, despite facing a terrific offensive line, put pressure on arguably the best quarterback in the league?

Those are just a few questions to be poised while people watch this game. There is a serious lack of confidence in the defense, despite obvious offseason upgrades. Of course, perceived improvements are only looked at on paper. What it really will come down to are matchups, and the Giants proved in the preseason that they can match up with anyone.

Despite the obvious talent at wideout for the Colts, the Giants have depth at cornerback. Webster, Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters have all proven at one point or another that they are capable players and will stand up to the challenge. The defensive ends, Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, are two of the best in the league, and the linebackers are solid. Watch for the unit to give Peyton a headache and cause more than one turnover.

What we have in this game is opposites on both sides of the ball. The Giants' offense is being held to such high standards that the pressure may cause it to fail. The defense, on the other hand, is dealing with fairly low standards and high skepticism, which ought to motivate the group to succeed and prove said critics wrong.

With all of that taken into consideration, the following can be said: The Giants will stand up to the Colts, and they will fight hard. Despite how talented the Colts have proven in past years, there's more than one reason for many to say that the Giants will triumph.

It may only be the first game of the season, but the players are anxious, the fans are anxious and the mood is right. Can you feel the electricity in the air? If not, you sure will around 8 p.m. on Sept. 10.

Get more New York Giants coverage at RealFootball365.com
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