The new NFL season starts today and Randy Zellea from Back Sports Page is at Metlife stadium in NJ to cover the Jags vs Giants. Here are some Notes to get you prepped up and ready to go for today’s game from the Meadowlands!
-The New York Giants open the 2018 regular season schedule at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 9. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in MetLife Stadium. Sunday’s game marks the seventh time in history the teams have faced off in the regular season, with the series tied at 3-3.
The Giants are 3-0 at home vs. Jacksonville. A win against Jacksonville will improve their record at home Giants AFC opponents to 58-43. The last time the Giants opened a season vs. an AFC South opponent was in 2006, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 26-21.
-Series Meetings: 6
Overall Record: 3-3
Home: 3-0
Away: 0-3
First Game: Jaguars 40 vs. Giants 13 (9/7/97)
Last Game: Jaguars 25 vs. Giants 24 (11/30/14)
-Giants-Jags Inactives for today:
-Eli Manning is 1-2 all time against the Jags.
-Odell Beckham is 1-1 is season openers in his seasons. He missed the 2014 and 2017 openers with injuries. This will be the first time he opens the season at home.
-Zac DeOssie and Eli Manning are the only remaining Giants from the 2011 Super Bowl Team.
-Tom Coughlin returns to the Meadowlands and only six players remain from his last team. Landon Collins, Eli Manning, Zac Deossi, Erick Flowers, and Kerry Wynn.
–Game Preview and Prediction:
Today’s game against the Jags marks the first season opener at Metlife stadium for the Giants since 2012 when they lost to the Cowboys on their defense of the SuperBowl championship.
The Jags are coming off their best season in years and has one of if not the best defense in football. The team made minor adjustments and looking to build off of last years success and move forward at a possible Super Bowl run.
The Giants are coming off a terrible 3-13 season and look to come back after rebuilding their roster. Eli Manning returns for his 15th season as the Giants starting Quarterback with a new cast of offensive weapons.
Rookie Saquon Barkley is looked upon being the center piece of the Giants backfield and is ready to make an impact since missing the last three preseason games with a tweaked hamstring. All eyes will be on the rookie sensation as the franchise possibly passed on the QB of the future to get him.
The other big story is the return of Odell Beckham Jr. He has not been on the field since week 5 against the Chargers during the 2017 campaign. Fresh off his new contract, Beckham told reporters that he just wants to help the team win any way he can. “I love the way that we’re preparing. I love the way that he prepares. There’s a lot of plays, there’s a lot of stuff that’s going on in there. Just making sure you know where to line up, assignments, attention to detail, all those things are important. Coach Shurmur is probably one of the best at it that I’ve seen.”
Beckham also expressed his excitement about starting the season at home instead of the traditional opener in Dallas which has been the norm since 2013. “I’m excited it’s at home. This is the place that the injury happened. This is our home, this is our family, the Giants crowd. I couldn’t ask for a better place to have the first game.”
Eli manning shares the same excitement that Beckham has about opening the season at home and being ready for week one. ” I think just getting out there with this team, with these guys and I’m looking forward to having a great week of preparation, going out there and playing a full game and see if we can make enough plays to win the game and celebrate with our team.”
My Prediction comes down to the play of Blake Bortles. If he plays well and does not turn the ball over, the Giants will have their hands filled with this very good Jags team.
The Giants have to be able to maximize every opportunity they have on the offensive end and try and manage defense and force as many third and longs as possible.
The Giants are going to be a work and progress and feel that the Giants will fall 23-17 but have the potential to build off it.
Check back here and on twitter at @randybsp for updates.
