It’s time to play football and put all this deflategate nonsense behind us. There will be a ruling this week and the Patriots can start game-planning, until then the quarterback situation remains in limbo. The Pats better get Ryan Lindley some reps if he’s going to be the backup for the first quarter of the season.
ODDS
While the uncertainty over the suspension of Tom Brady lingers over the Patriots, there is still a season to prepare for. New England opened as a 2.5-point home favorite with a total of 39.5.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Most teams give their starters the fourth preseason game off due to the risk of injury. But Giants coach Tom Coughlin has generally played Eli Manning and his first-teamers for at least part of the finale. Manning played two series last year against the Patriots in the final preseason game and could use the work this time around with a unit that has struggled. Backup Ryan Nassib has done a nice job during the preseason and will likely get a series or two as well. Expect to get a long second half look at third-stringer Ricky Stanzi, who’s played sparingly this preseason and has yet to throw a pass.
With uncertainty still surrounding Tom Brady and his suspension, coach Bill Belichick has different situations to prep for. Though Brady likely doesn’t need the work, his backup and starter if the four-game suspension is upheld, Jimmy Garoppolo does. Also, third-stringer Ryan Lindley has yet to take a snap in the preseason after signing on Aug. 10. He should see some reps in a game situation with his new offense since he will be Garoppolo’s primary backup if Brady is suspended.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
With the regular season opener right around the corner, Coughlin says the Giants have a long way to go to be ready. The coach didn’t have a lot of positives after losing to the Jets on Saturday. The first team offense produced one touchdown in five series in the first half and handed the jets another score on a pick six. The defense yielded two touchdown passes, looked lost in coverage several times and couldn’t stop the run. Special teams also had a breakdown giving up a touchdown on a punt return. “We all have a ways to go,” Coughlin said. “I don’t think any of it is exactly where it should be. That’s why Coughlin, in hopes of working out some of the kinks, plans on playing his starters in the final preseason game.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“You don’t want to feel unsure going into the season, especially when the first week is a division opponent. You want to feel confident, like we’re ready to take on an opponent for real. And personally, I don’t feel like I’m there yet. We’re getting there, but we’re not there yet. So I feel it could be right for us to continue playing in the next game.” – Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
The Giants are looking for answers at safety after losing four of them to potentially season-ending injuries in the past two weeks. The team re-signed Stevie Brown this week in a move to shore up the position that has been decimated by. Since training camp opened, rookies Landon Collins, Mykkele Thompson, free agent Justin Currie and veterans Bennett Jackson, Nat Berhe, Cooper Taylor and Josh Gordy have been hurt. Collins and Taylor returned to practice and played Saturday but the positions remain wide open. Brown was released last week by the Texans and returns to the Giants, who he played for from 2012-2014. The Giants signed Brandon Meriweather on Aug. 17 to also help out in the secondary.
INJURIES
Giants defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. is uncertain when the injury in the area of his ankle will allow him to play. Ayers Jr. was ready to play Saturday before sustaining the injury in pre-game warm-ups. Linebacker Jon Beason will sit out with a bum knee and ready himself for the season opener.
James Develin suffered a broken tibia in Friday’s game, leaving the Patriots short one fullback on their roster. He’s expected to be out 6-8 weeks.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Giants will play their first-teamers for a portion of the first quarter as they try to iron out some issues with the team. We may also see Victor Cruz for the first time, giving Manning his top two receivers for the first time this preseason. That should be a boost to the Giants offense which should be more explosive than what they’ve shown. Garoppolo has done a majority of his work against backups and will be tested against New York’s defense. A leaky secondary might lead to some big plays for New England.
New York 27, New England 23
The NFL odds for this Sunday contest were first released by BookMaker and the Patriots were positioned as 2.5-point favorites with a total of 39.5. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
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