Some said the Giants (4-0 straight up, 3-1 against the spread) didn’t have a prayer at making the playoffs last season let alone taking home the Vince Lombardi trophy in Arizona. Then again, neither did most New York fans and Jersey residents (at least in the begining of the season).
It’s now 2008 and many of those doubters are still floating around the fact that New York might be on another magical ride to the top. Is it the unfathomable improvement of Giants’ QB Eli Manning, tossing 55 interceptions from 2005 to 2007, to turning the ball over through the air only once this year? And what about a running game ranked first in the league with 181.3 YPG and the overall offensive success ranking New York No. 1 with 31.8 points per game scored?
Maybe it’s true. All of these major improvements are just difficult to swallow at once.
Either way there’s a game to be played on Monday Night and its Cleveland (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS) that will attempt to bring the G-Men back down from the outer limits of the stratosphere. Most books continue to believe that New York is the real deal.
Bodog.com has installed the Giants as eight-point visiting favorites, with a total set at 43. If you are wagering on the money line then the G-Men are snatching up a chalky -350 price tag (bet $350 to make $100), while the Browns are looking at +275 (bet $100 to make $275).
Let’s begin with the many problems that Cleveland must overcome if it wants a prayer in this matchup.
The offense is the first line of business. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson (543 passing yards, three touchdowns with five interceptions) continues to hold onto the starting job despite unfavorable performances this season. We’re talking about a slinger who’s thrown more picks then interceptions in all but one game (Week 1 had Anderson for one score and zero INTs).
And who does Anderson throw to? Bad news (like this team can bear more bad news) has tight end Kellen Winslow spending his third day in a local hospital. Team officials are keeping his condition confidential and a return for Monday is looking bleak as of Saturday.
Part of the reason why Cleveland is last in the NFL with 210.8 total yards per game can be seen on the team's stat sheet. Behind Winslow (170 receiving yards, one TD) on the receiving list is WR Braylon Edwards and RB Jamal Lewis, both who have combined for a meager 173 yards with a lone score. With QB Anderson getting sacked eight times and giving up six interceptions, there’s no hiding the trouble rocking this organization.
The Browns are also ranked second to last in scoring with 11.5 PPG and 30th worst in first downs with only 58 conversions.
New York storms out of the lock room with statistics that are overwhelming in comparison to this week’s opponent.
Besides what the front four on defense has accomplished thus far, even with the season ending injury to defensive end Osi Umenyiora and the retirement of DE Michael Strahan, credit must be given to young playmakers.
The Giants’ wide out Domenik Hixon proved that he could play during the preseason (coincidently he exploded on the scene in a romping over Cleveland on Aug. 18), but did experts and fans know the immediate impact he would bring to the table? Hixon is averaging 19.1 yards per reception. Other helpers on QB Manning’s side include WRs Steve Smith (121 yards), Sinorice Moss (68 yards with two TDs – all scores coming in Week 5’s victory) and of course veteran Amani Toomer (207 yards, one score). And we haven’t even mentioned superstar but malcontent, Plaxico Burress (259 yards, one TD).
The running game has been instrumental as always. A tandem of RBs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw have all come together for 716 rushing yards with four TDs.
But the most improved part on New York is in the secondary. The likes of cornerbacks Aaron Ross, James Butler and rookie safety Kenny Philips have contributed towards a low interception total (two), but allowing only three passing touchdowns in ’08 is stone wall defensive play. And what about allowing not one score in the first quarter of play since last season’s wild card win over Tampa Bay?
If you’re thinking about wagering on the favorite then the Giants are 11-1 away off a SU win of 14 points or more. Supporting this play is Cleveland’s 5-9 SU record in the last 14 after coming off a bye week and a 3-6 ATS performance in the last nine after a bye.
The last time the Brownies claimed a ‘W’ over the G-Men was back on Dec. 1, 1985 (35-33). New York has taken eight straight victories in a row (dating back to last season) and 10 of the last 11 regular season road games overall.
On defense, Cleveland’s veteran linebacker Willie McGinest returns to the depth chart after missing two straight weeks with a groin injury, while WR Donte Stallworth (quad) might finally take to the field after signing a seven-year, $35 million contract during the offseason. Stallworth, coming off a sub-par 2007 season, has yet to dress in a Browns’ jersey this season.
Joshua Jacobs can be reached at jacobs@vegasinsider.com.
