By Ryan G. Murphy
Up next for the Giants is a Monday night match up with the 1-4 Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome.
Now, if you’re anything like my life-long-Giants-fan grandfather, Harry Walker, you might be saying, “Giants on Monday night? They never win on Monday night.”
Well, I wouldn’t say never, but he’s got a point. The Giants generally don’t play their best on Monday Night Football. In team history they are 17-30-1 on Monday night…11-22-1 as the visiting team.
Here’s the good news. The visiting team in the Giants – Falcons series has won the last 11 games – that’s the longest such streak in NFL history.
Last year the Giants went into Atlanta and beat the Falcons 24-17. And, not to jinx it, but the Giants haven’t lost in the Georgia Dome since 1978.
The Falcons are coming off a tough 20-13 loss against the Tennessee Titans. Atlanta had a chance to tie the game late, but a sack on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard-line with a minute left negated that chance.
Byron Leftwich started the game as the third quarterback, but came into the game during the fourth quarter after Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino decided to pull Joey Harrington.
Leftwich looked rusty, missing high on several pass attempts.
“I thought Joey (Harrington) got hit a lot and I thought there were some plays there that he didn’t make late in the third quarter and that maybe a change would give us a spark and give us some energy and I made the decision to put Byron in,” Petrino said, adding the team has made no decisions about the immediate future at the quarterback position, according to J. Michael’s Moore’s report following the game.
Early reports during this week have noted that Petrino will start Harrington against the Giants on Monday.
The Giants will look to contain Falcons’ running back Warrick Dunn, an elusive back with great speed and hands. Last year Dunn broke a 90-yard run against the Giants – the longest in Falcons’ history. The Giants will to need to minimize Dunn’s impact if they plan on winning Monday. Dunn had a big game against the Giants last year, notching 146 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown.
Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler is a perennial threat, particular inside the redzone. Don’t let the fact that he only has one touchdown catch this season fool you. This guy is good. The Giants’ linebackers and secondary will have their hands full on Monday. Last season against the Giants Crumpler had five catches for 66 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Atlanta boasts two marquee pro bowlers – defensive end John Abraham and corner DeAngelo Hall – who will likely match up with Plaxico Burress.
Against the Giants last season Abraham notched two tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Hall had four tackles and an interception.
On Wednesday, I’ll join reporters on a conferences calls with Petrino and Hall. Stay tuned for that.
