The Giants are heading in to Atlanta for a Monday night meeting with the Falcons looking for a crucial win. Instead of playing for playoff contention, Big Blue is looking for redemption to show that they are not the team we have seen through the first six weeks of the season.
A lot of heat has been place on Quarterback Eli Manning for his poor play and the questions on if he should still be on the field as a starter. If the insiders and fans feel that Eli Manning is the major problem for the New York Giants, then they are not really paying attention to what is happening on the field.
Multiple media outlets will watch the tape and nit pick, but I trust what I see. The truth is the identity of the Giants is in question, not Eli. Are they a running team? A defensive team? A passing team? What’s the answer?
Manning was chosen by John Mara, Dave Gettleman, and the rest of the brass to continue as the starting quarterback for this team and even went as far as to pass on a group of rookie qbs in this years draft to stick with him with the delight of the New York faithful. After six games everyone is calling for his head.
Head Coach Pat Shurmer put the tension to rest after reassuring that the staff and team believe in Manning as he stated after last Thursday’s game. “We still believe in Eli and he is our guy.”
With Eli under center, the Giants offense rank 24th in total offense. Manning has completed only 68% of his passing with six touchdown receptions and four interceptions.
Moving past the distraction of Eli and the comments made by Odell Beckham Jr which turned heads. Big Blue moves forward to play the Falcons in Atlanta, a place they have not won since 2007 where the beat the Falcons 30-10 on Monday Night Football.
Shurmer believes one win can get the ball rolling with the confidence to possibly put a win streak together and show how mentally strong this team is. “We got one. To get the next one, and the next one, and the next one, that’s the goal. Teams fight through adversity and it’s in the Giants’ DNA to pull this thing out. I’ve seen it, I’ve studied the history of it, and I like the locker room that we’ve assembled. I’m impressed with the guys that we have in the locker room, and I know they’re going to fight. I watched the games just like you have and coached the games – these guys fight, and these guys have enthusiasm. We just haven’t executed, and I’ll keep saying that until we do. And when we win the game, you know what I’m going to say? We executed better but we still made a lot of mistakes. ”
Eli Manning echoed Coach Shurmer’s feeling of one win getting everyone going. ” It’s easy to get hot in this league, it’s possible. We just got to find a way to get one. This week on the road, a tough contest against Atlanta, but I think the guys are ready, and focused, and ready to go out there and ready to play better football.”
The Giants are 11-12 against the Falcons all time but a 8-4 record in Atlanta. The teams last met on Sept. 20, 2015 in MetLife Stadium, when the Giants lost, 24-20.
Returning to the field for the Giants this week is Tight End Evan Engram who has missed the last three games due to injury. He went down to injury in Houston during the Giants lone victory against the Texans.
He Explained at today’s media session how excited he was to return to field. “It’s a great opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for myself. I’m looking to come back, looking to play this week and great opportunity for our team, Monday night primetime. Going back home against a good Atlanta Falcons team, it’s exciting. Gives us a lot of motivation to work this week and it’s just a great opportunity for this whole locker room.”
Engram adds another dynamic that the team was missing the last three weeks. Engram who at times is Manning’s safety blanket on the field joins a young core of offensive weapons such as Odell Beckham JR, Saquon Barkley, and Sterling Shepard.
In his first three games of the season, Engram has 10 receptions for a total of 104 yards and one touchdown which took place in the fourth quarter of the Dallas game in week 2.
Engram echoed the same message that Eli and Shurmer stated in the day, one win can change it all. “It would do a lot for us. That’s the goal going in it, to win each game. We’re 1-5, that’s what we are, but a win will be a testament of what this team could be and what we’re supposed to be and definitely just keep allowing us to give us some energy and keep pushing forward for the rest of the year. ”
The Giants hope to use this week as jump start for the rest of the season. Its not impossible but will be difficult to make the playoffs at this rate.
We will dive more into this tomorrow as we do a full game preview!!
